Hiller UH-12E accident near Ray, North Dakota, June 20, 1987
On June 20, 1987 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12E (helicopter), registered N68012, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ray, North Dakota. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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 20, 1987 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ray, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12E · all UH-12Es on the register
- Registration
- N68012 · no longer on the register · serial 1500
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTS THAT HE WAS DEPARTING FROM AN AERIAL APP OPERATING AREA. HE SAID THERE WAS A TREE LINE ALONG A ROAD WITH AN OPENING AND THE TAKEOFF WAS MADE TOWARD THE OPENING. THERE WERE WIRES ACROSS THE OPENING AND THE POLES WERE OBSCURED BY THE TREES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE OPENING. THE PLT DID NOT SEE THE WIRES AND COLLIDED WITH THEM DURING THE DEPARTURE. TAIL ROTOR CONTROL WAS LOST AS A RESULT OF THE COLLISION AND THE ACFT CRASHED TO THE GROUND.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,768 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 81 in the last 90 days; 3,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,134 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 22, 1986; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Pro App Fertilizer, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N68012 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.