Mcdonnell Douglas 369E accident near Yukon, Oklahoma, June 13, 1992
On June 13, 1992 at about 3:35 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas 369E (helicopter), registered N684F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yukon, Oklahoma (Clarence E. Page airport). It was a public-use 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 DUAL STUDENT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE MAIN ROTOR RPM AND FAILURE TO LEVEL THE HELICOPTER AT TOUCHDOWN. FACTORS WERE THE MANUFACTURER'S TRAINING PILOT'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION AND THE DUAL STUDENT PERFORMING THE MANEUVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 1992 · about 3:35 pm local time
- Place
- Yukon, Oklahoma · Clarence E. Page · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas 369E
- Registration
- N684F · no longer on the register · serial 0491E
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE MANUFACTURER'S TRAINING PILOT WAS CONDUCTING UNAPPROVED 'ZERO AIRSPEED' AUTOROTATION TRAINING IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANNUAL PROFICIENCY TRAINING FOR THE POLICE AVIATION SUPPORT UNIT. HE WAS NOT A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. AFTER HE DEMONSTRATED THE MANEUVER, THE POLICE PILOT ATTEMPTED IT. THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE GROUND WITH LOW MAIN ROTOR RPM AND NOT IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES SEVERED THE TAIL OF THE HELICOPTER. THE POLICE PILOT STATED THAT THIS AND OTHER EMERGENCY PROCEDURE MANEUVERS WERE NOT COVERED IN THE BRIEFING CONDUCTED BEFORE THE FLIGHT.
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: 8,200 hours in all; 1,400 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 7,676 as pilot in command; 1,200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 442 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 8, 1992; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Oklahoma City Police Dept
The flight
- Departed from: 2DT Oklahoma City OK at 1:35 pm
- Destination: F29
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,500 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:48 pm from PWA, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.