Continental Copters MK15A accident near King Ferry, New York, May 23, 1990
On May 23, 1990 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Continental Copters MK15A (helicopter), registered N9034T, was substantially damaged in an accident near King Ferry, New York. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM POWER LINES DURING THIS APPROACH TO LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1990 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- King Ferry, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Continental Copters MK15A
- Registration
- N9034T · no longer on the register · serial CC 174-9
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER STRUCK POWERLINES DURING ITS APPROACH TO LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS REMOVED FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE IN NEW YORK AND TRANSPORTED TO FLORIDA BEFORE FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS COULD EXAMINE THE WRECKAGE. THE FAA INSPECTOR WHO PERFORMED THE INVESTIGATION REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO CLAIM OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL DIFFICULTY/MALFUNCTION. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT REPORTED MORE THAN 1900 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT TIME IN THE ACCIDENT MAKE AND MODEL AIRCRAFT.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,112 hours in all; 1,929 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 19,847 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 7, 1990; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-AIF (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N9034T the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.