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Accidents · NTSB DEN88LA163 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Enstrom 280C accident near Glendive, Montana, July 19, 1988

On July 19, 1988 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Enstrom 280C (helicopter), registered N111CD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Glendive, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
July 19, 1988 · about 11:20 pm local time
Place
Glendive, Montana
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Enstrom 280C · all 280Cs on the register
Registration
N111CD · registry record · serial 1035
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

Pilot

  • Certificate: commercial pilot, private
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
  • Flight time: 4,201 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 49 in the last 30 days; 3,622 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 1,040 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, July 8, 1988; 8 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
  • Seats: 3
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-EIAD (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: GDV Glendive MT at 11:15 pm
  • Destination: GDV
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 310° at 15 knots, gusting 20
  • Visibility: 30 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1
Passengers1

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.