Hughes 369D accident near Coaltown, Pennsylvania, October 20, 1982
On October 20, 1982 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N31PL, was destroyed in an accident near Coaltown, Pennsylvania. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. 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
- October 20, 1982 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Coaltown, Pennsylvania
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N31PL · registry record · serial 11702340
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE PATROLLING ALONG THE WEST'SIDE OF A POWER LINE FROM SOUTH TO NORTH. WHILE PATROLLING THE PILOT WAS MAINTAINING AN ALTITUDE OF 75 TO 100 FT AGL AT 20 TO 30 KTS WITH AN 8 TO 10 KT TAIL WIND. HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS DESCENDING DOWN A RIDGE WHEN THE HELICOPTER BEGAN A SLOW YAW TO THE RIGHT. HE STATED THAT FULL LEFT PEDDLE WAS USELESS AND THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO YAW TO THE RIGHT. HE REDUCED THE COLLECTIVE TO CONTROL THE RATE OF THE TURN, BUT BEGAN DESCENDING TOWARD THE WIRES. HE THEN INCREASED THE COLLECTIVE AND ADDED RIGHT CYCLIC TO AVOID THE WIRES. AFTER SPINNING 2 OR 3 TIMES, HE REDUCED THE POWER AND COLLECTIVE AND BEGAN AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD IN A WOODED AREA. A POST IMPACT FIRE DESTROYED THE FUSELAGE FROM STATION 164 FORWARD.
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: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,671 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1,544 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,340 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Evergreen Helicopter, INC
The flight
- Departed from: Butler PA at 8:30 am
- Destination: Butler PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.