Aerospatiale AS-350D accident near Matagorda Islng, Louisiana, July 11, 1985
On July 11, 1985 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Aerospatiale AS-350D (helicopter), registered N3594N, was involved in an accident near Matagorda Islng, Louisiana (Matagorda Island airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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 11, 1985 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Matagorda Islng, Louisiana · Matagorda Island
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS-350D · all AS-350Ds on the register
- Registration
- N3594N · no longer on the register · serial 1093
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD DURING AN ATTEMPTED AUTOROTATION TO AN ABANDONED AIR BASE. INITIAL TOUCHDOWN OCCURRED ON THE STINGER AND THE ACFT YAWED TO THE LEFT OF RWY HEADING 30 TO 40 DEGREES. THE NEXT TOUCHDOWN WAS ON THE SKIDS AND THE ACFT YAWED FURTHER TO THE LEFT TO APRX 45 DEGREES. FOLLOWING THIS, THE ACFT ROLLED OVER. NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT COULD BE FOUND.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,610 hours in all; 141 in this make and model; 191 in the last 90 days; 1,476 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,996 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 22, 1985; 176 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,190 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming LTS 101 600A (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Matagorda 623 GM at 10:21 pm
- Destination: Port Oconner TX
- Runway 20, 6,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from VCT
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.
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.