Hiller UH-12B accident near Butler, Pennsylvania, November 15, 1984
On November 15, 1984 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12B (helicopter), registered N17129, was substantially damaged in an accident near Butler, Pennsylvania. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 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
- November 15, 1984 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Butler, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12B · all UH-12Bs on the register
- Registration
- N17129 · registry record · serial MIL 5116189
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TRAINING AT MCVILLE ARPT FOR ABOUT 1HR & 15MIN THE PLT DECIDED TO PURCHASE FUEL, TAXIED TO THE FUEL PUMPS & DISCOVERED THAT THE OPERATOR WAS NOT THERE. THE CFI EST THAT THERE WAS SUFFICIENT FUEL TO FLY TO BUTLER COUNTY ARPT, APRX 18 MILES AWAY. DURING THE FLT TO BUTLER THEY ENCOUNTERED STRONG GUSTY HEAD WINDS & WITH THE STUDENT PLT FLYING HAD TROUBLE WITH ALT & HEADING. ABOUT TWO MIN AFTER SIGHTING THE ARPT THE ENG QUIT & THE PLT MADE AN AUTOROTATION INTO TREES.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 17,638 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 10,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 21,984 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 6, 1984; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6U335A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GO6 Freedom PA
- Destination: BTP Butlern PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 1,100 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Observation at 5:45 pm from BVI, 25 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.