S M & T Aircraft UH accident near Northway, Alaska, June 10, 2019
On June 10, 2019 at about 7:46 pm local time, a 1963 S M & T Aircraft UH (helicopter), registered N64771, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Northway, Alaska. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate during landing, which resulted in impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 10, 2019 · about 7:46 pm local time
- Place
- Northway, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- S M & T Aircraft UH 1B, built 1963
- Registration
- N64771 · no longer on the register · serial 63-8704
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter pilot reported that he and the safety pilot were delivering fuel to a remote camp. During short final with the safety pilot on the controls and while the helicopter was about 50 ft above ground level, the descent rate increased. The safety pilot raised the collective, but the helicopter continued to descend, and the main rotor rpm began to decay. The helicopter then yawed right, rolled left, and impacted terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and main rotor blades. The helicopter pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Settling with power/vortex ring state during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, remote
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter; rotorcraft: unmanned (suas)
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 8 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 110,314 hours in all; 297 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,414 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 4, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 8,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T53-L-11D (turboshaft); 2,174 hours total
- Operator: Aurora Aviation Services, Inc
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:53 pm from PAOR, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on January 21, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photo | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation - Safety Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Conversation - Pilot in Command | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.