Aerospatiale SA-341G accident near Yamhill, Oregon, May 16, 1992
On May 16, 1992 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Aerospatiale SA-341G (helicopter), registered N9000E, was destroyed in an accident near Yamhill, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT MISJUDGED A MANEUVER PERFORMED AT INADEQUATE ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 1992 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Yamhill, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA-341G · all SA-341Gs on the register
- Registration
- N9000E · no longer on the register · serial 1471
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE GIVING RIDES TO EMPLOYEES AT A COMPANY PICNIC, THE PILOT LOADED FOUR PASSENGERS, FLEW TO HIS BASE, REFUELED, HAD A MINOR REPAIR COMPLETED, THEN DEPARTED ON THE RETURN FLIGHT. DURING THE RETURN FLIGHT, HE TOLD THE PASSENGERS THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS THE AIRCRAFT USED IN A TELEVISION SERIES, THEN DEMONSTRATED A SERIES OF MANEUVERS RELATED TO THOSE USED IN THE TELEVISION SHOW. DURING A MANEUVER, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TREES AND THE SURFACE IN HILLY WOODED TERRAIN, AND BURNED AFTER IMPACT. ONE PASSENGER ASSISTED THE OTHER THREE PASSENGERS OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT. ONE PASSENGER DIED WHILE WAITING FOR RESCUE.
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: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,253 hours in all; 726 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 12, 1992; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,970 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ASTAZOU IIIA (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Teufel Nursery, INC
The flight
- Departed from: HIO Hillsboro OR at 11:08 pm
- Destination: OR05 Flying M Ranch OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from HIO, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
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.