Hughes 369D accident near Pacific Ocean, PO, November 7, 1993
On November 7, 1993, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N5172K, was destroyed in an accident near Pacific Ocean, PO. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN UNDETERMINED EVENT THAT RESULTED IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 7, 1993
- Place
- Pacific Ocean, PO
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N5172K · no longer on the register · serial 1123D
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED A FISHING VESSEL ON A FISH SPOTTING FLIGHT WITH THE PILOT AND A CREWMEMBER. ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF AFTER DEPARTURE, THE HELICOPTER DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR ABOUT 27 MILES FROM THE VESSEL. NO COMMUNICATIONS WERE RECEIVED FROM THE HELICOPTER. A SEARCH OF THE AREA REVEALED FLOATING DEBRIS, AIRCRAFT FRAGMENTS, AND PERSONAL ITEMS. THE TWO CREW MEMBERS WERE NOT LOCATED AND WERE PRESUMED TO HAVE RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT RECOVERED AND WAS PRESUMED TO HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 375 MILES NORTHEAST OF MADANG, PAPUA, NEW GUINEA, IN THE BISMARCK SEA.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,600 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,544 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 26, 1993; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
- Operator: Big Eye Helicopters INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Vessel Laura Z
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.