Aerospatiale S350D accident near Starfish, Alaska, November 8, 1982
On November 8, 1982, a Aerospatiale S350D (helicopter), registered N3597Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Starfish, Alaska. It was a business flight 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
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 8, 1982
- Place
- Starfish, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale S350D
- Registration
- N3597Q · no longer on the register · serial 1122
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN THE FLT ARRIVED AT ANITA BAY THERE WERE AREAS OF GROUND FOG MOVING IN & OUT OVER THE LOGGING CAMP LANDING SIGHT. THE HELICOPTER WAS OBSERVED TO FLY OVER THE CAMP & BACK OUT ACROSS THE BAY. SHORTLY AFTER THE HELICOPTER WAS OUT OF SIGHT A NOISE SOUNDING LIKE AN EXPLOSION WAS HEARD. THE HELICOPTER WAS FOUND UPSIDE DOWN IN WATER. THE LEFT FLOTATION DEVICE WAS INFLATED BUT THE RIGHT WAS STILL IN THE NORMAL STOWED POSITION. THE PLT ACTIVATED DISCHARGE SWITCH WAS FOUND IN THE UNGUARDED POSITION.
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: 3,004 hours in all; 1,080 in this make and model; 67 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 26 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 319 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 193 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,650 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming LTS-101-600AZ (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C Wrangell AK at 6:59 pm
- Destination: C Wrangell AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.