Hughes 269B accident near Mt St Helens, Washington, June 18, 1982
On June 18, 1982 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Hughes 269B (helicopter), registered N9352F, was destroyed in an accident near Mt St Helens, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. 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
- June 18, 1982 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mt St Helens, Washington
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269B · all 269Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9352F · no longer on the register · serial 0046
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT INTENDED TO PROCEED TO MT ST HELENS TO LAND NEAR SPIRIT LAKE. THE WINDS IN THE VICINITY OF THE DESIRED LANDING POINT WERE TOO STRONG FOR A SAFE LANDING. THEREFORE, AN ALTERNATE SPOT WAS SELECTED BELOW THE RIDGE LINE AND PRESUMABLY SHELTERED FROM THE WIND. LATE IN THE APPROACH HOVER, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A SUDDEN SIDE DRIFT WHICH COULD NOT BE ARRESTED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT A STRONG GUST OF WIND HAD BLOWN THE AIRCRAFT OUT OVER THE BACK SIDE OF THE RIDGE. HE REPORTED THAT WHEN THE HELICOPTER MOVED OUT OF GROUND EFFECT, IT BEGAN TO SETTLE AND HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE DESCENT. THE IMPACT FORCES WERE SUFFICIENT TO DAMAGE THE AIRCRAFT BEYOND ECONOMICAL REPAIR. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 6200 FT.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 219 hours in all; 139 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 158 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OLM Olympia WA at 10:30 am
- Destination: OLM Olympia WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 45 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 158°F (70°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.