Mcdonnell Douglas 369D accident near Cougar, Washington, February 11, 1986
On February 11, 1986 at about 4:15 am local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas 369D (helicopter), registered N609PD, was destroyed in an accident near Cougar, Washington. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 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
- February 11, 1986 · about 4:15 am local time
- Place
- Cougar, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas 369D
- Registration
- N609PD · no longer on the register · serial 0754S
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED THE LANDING AREA AFTER A NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION ACROSS THE VALLEY FLOOR FROM THE MT. ST. HELENS VOLCANO. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE THE PLT REPORTED THE WEATHER WAS CLOSING IN AND GETTING 'NASTY'. WX CONDITIONS AS REPORTED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE SUPPORT THE CONTENTION A METEOROLOGICAL EVENT CAUSED THE PLT TO LOSE VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE HORIZON AND IMPACT TERRAIN WHILE DESCENDING TO THE VALLEY FLOOR AT CRUISE SPEED.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,711 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 4,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,481 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 4, 1985; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-20-C (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 60S Vancouver WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 130° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 am from PDX, 43 miles away
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.