Aerospatiale SE316B accident near East Glacier, Montana, October 5, 1984
On October 5, 1984 at about 3:55 pm local time, a Aerospatiale SE316B (helicopter), registered N98325, was substantially damaged in an accident near East Glacier, Montana. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person 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
- October 5, 1984 · about 3:55 pm local time
- Place
- East Glacier, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SE316B
- Registration
- N98325 · no longer on the register · serial 1243
- 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 ACFT CRASHED AT A REMOTE LANDING SITE WHILE ON A SEISMIC OPERATION. THE PLT STATED THAT HE DEPARTED A RIDGE- TOP WITH INTENTIONS OF DROPPING OFF 2 TO 4 PASSG AT ANOTHER RIDGETOP LOCATED ONE-HALF MI SOUTH. THE INTENDED LDG POINT WAS A NARROW RIDGETOP AT 6000 FT MSL, SURROUNDED BY RUGGED TERRAIN & NUMEROUS HIGH PEAKS TO 8000 MSL. HE STATED THAT THE APPROACH WAS MADE TO THE SOUTHWEST WITH THE WIND AT THE 11 O'CLOCK POSITION. HE FURTHER STATED THAT 'AT APPROX 20 FT ABV TOUCHDOWN I ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT/WIND SHIFT WHICH INDUCED A HIGH VERTICAL RATE OF DESCENT. I DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO ABORT THE APPROACH. THE ACFT LANDED HARD ON THE NOSEWHEEL, STABILIZED AT A HOVER FOR ABOUT TWO SECONDS, THEN ROLLED ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE. I SUSPECT THAT THE DAMAGED NOSE GEAR STRUT INTERFERED WITH THE FLT CONTROLS AFTER INITIAL IMPACT.' THE PLT STATED THE ACFT OPERATED IN A NORMAL MECHANICAL MANNER PRIOR TO THE ACTUAL ACCIDENT SEQUENCE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,872 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 235 in the last 90 days; 8,336 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,734 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 11, 1984; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,630 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARTOUSTE IIIB (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 25 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:55 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
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.