Hughes 369D accident near 10Mi. NW Walsen, Colorado, January 26, 1982
On January 26, 1982 at about 7:35 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N58214, was substantially damaged in an accident near 10Mi. NW Walsen, Colorado. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 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
- January 26, 1982 · about 7:35 pm local time
- Place
- 10Mi. NW Walsen, Colorado
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N58214 · no longer on the register · serial 880318D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS FLYING 200-300 AGL OVER 8,000 FT TERRAIN ELEVATION AT 80 KNOTS. THE PLT REPORTED ENCOUNTERING WIND GUSTS SLOWING HIS GROUND SPEED TO ZERO. THE ACFT THEN STARTED A RAPID VERTICAL DESCENT WHILE STILL INDICATING 80 K. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO ARREST THE DESCENT BUT THE RIGHT SKID COLLAPSED ON IMPACT & THE ACFT ROLLED RIGHT SHEARING THE M/R BLADES & TWISTING OFF THE TAIL BOOM.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 806 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,267 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison DDA250C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C Pueblo CO at 12:15 pm
- Destination: C Sheep Mountain CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 35 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 154°F (68°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 12:35 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.