Sikorsky S-76A accident near Moundsville, West Virginia, June 23, 1988
On June 23, 1988 at about 8:42 pm local time, a Sikorsky S-76A (helicopter), registered N54C, was destroyed in an accident near Moundsville, West Virginia. It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 1988 · about 8:42 pm local time
- Place
- Moundsville, West Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S-76A · all S-76As on the register
- Registration
- N54C · no longer on the register · serial 7600116
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED POWER LINES SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A MINE SITE. THE NOSE GEAR OF THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED AN UNINSULATED STATIC WIRE. THIS WIRE WAS STRUNG WITH ONE OTHER STATIC WIRE AND TWO BLACK INSULATED POWER LINES. BOTH CREW MEMBERS STATED THAT THEY SAW THE BLACK LINES AND BELIEVED THEIR RATE OF CLIMB WOULD ALLOW ADEQUATE CLEARANCE. AFTERHITTING THE FIRST SET OF LINES, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN A DESCENDING TURN AND THEN CONTACTED A SECOND SET OF POWER LINES ALONG WITH A POWER POLE. THE HELICOPTER THEN COLLIDED WITH A SWITCHING HOUSE AND CAME TO REST ALONGSIDE A EARTHEN SUPPLYSLOPE. NONE OF THE WIRES WERE MARKED. THE CAPTAIN STATED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE SILVER COLORED STATIC WIRES.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,861 hours in all; 2,052 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 11,451 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,466 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 15, 1988; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,500 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250-C30 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Moundsville WV at 8:42 pm
- Destination: AGC Morgantown WV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from HLG, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.