Hughes 369D accident near Bothell, Washington, October 13, 1989
On October 13, 1989 at about 4:54 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N8613F, was destroyed in an accident near Bothell, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO DETERMINE WEATHER CONDITIONS BEFORE THE FLIGHT, HIS ATTEMPT TO FLY VFR IN IMC, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN OBSTACLE CLEARANCE ALTITUDE. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LOW CEILING, RAIN AND FOG WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 13, 1989 · about 4:54 pm local time
- Place
- Bothell, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N8613F · no longer on the register · serial 670127D
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM HIS HOME ON A VFR FLIGHT TO SNOHOMISH, WA., 7 MILES NORTH. HE DID NOT OBTAIN A WX BRIEFING OR FILE A FLIGHT PLAN. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED MANEUVERING AT A LOW ALT BEFORE IMPACT ONE MILE NORTH OF THE PILOT'S HOUSE, IN RAIN, FOG, & LOW CEILING WX CONDITIONS. THE ACFT WAS FLYING IN AND OUT OF LOW CLOUDS THAT EXTENDED DOWN TO TREE TOP LEVEL. THE ACFT IMPACTED TREES AND POWER LINES.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 209 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 146 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,255 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 21, 1989; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Bothell WA at 4:45 pm
- Destination: S43 Snohomish WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from PAE, 7 miles away
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 N8613F 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.