Mcdonnell Douglas 369E accident near Anadarko, Oklahoma, October 1, 1990
On October 1, 1990 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas 369E (helicopter), registered N381F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anadarko, Oklahoma. It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER VISUAL LOOKOUT PRIOR TO AND DURING DEPARTURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 1, 1990 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Anadarko, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas 369E
- Registration
- N381F · registry record · serial 0288E
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FROM AN UNIMPROVED HELICOPTER LANDING PAD THE PILOT FAILED TO ASSURE REQUIRED CLEARANCE FROM OBSTACLES POSITIONED ALONG HIS ROUTE OF DEPARTURE. THE HELICOPTER STRUCK A SINGLE ELECTRICAL POWER LINE RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO THE CONTROL RODS BEING SEVERED. A FORCED LANDING WAS PERFORMED BY REDUCING THE ENGINE POWER, HOWEVER, CONTROLLABILITY WITH COLLECTIVE OR CYCLIC WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND SLIDING RIGHT AND TURNING LEFT RESULTING IN IT ROLLING ON ITS RIGHT SIDE.
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: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,269 hours in all; 1,445 in this make and model; 84 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 3,083 as pilot in command; 76 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 10:30 pm
- Destination: OKC Oklahoma City OK
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from OKC, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.