Aerospatiale SA365N accident near Adrian, Michigan, December 10, 1985
On December 10, 1985 at about 9:11 am local time, a Aerospatiale SA365N (helicopter), registered N5800H, was destroyed in an accident near Adrian, Michigan. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- December 10, 1985 · about 9:11 am local time
- Place
- Adrian, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA365N
- Registration
- N5800H · no longer on the register · serial 6022
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THIS FLIGHT WAS TO PICK UP AN INJURED PATIENT AND RETURN HIM TO A MEDICAL CENTER. THE WEATHER WAS ADEQUATE FOR A VFR TAKEOFF. HOWEVER, ENROUTE WEATHER REPORTS INDICATED FOG AND PROBABLE LOW CEILINGS. ACCORDING TO THE SINGLE SURVIVOR OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT FLEW INTO 'THICK FOG' SHORTLY BEFORE REACHING THEIR DESTINATION FOR THE PATIENT PICKUP. AGAIN ACCORDING TO THE SURVIVOR, THE PILOT THEN TURNED TO THE LEFT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE HELICOPTER STRUCK TREES AND CRASHED TO THE GROUND. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE AND TEARDOWNS OF BOTH ENGINES REVEALED NO PRE- CRASH MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS.
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
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,500 hours in all; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,241 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 5, 1985; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,900 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL1C (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RLA Toledo OH at 8:49 am
- Destination: RLA Addison MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:30 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
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.