Aerospatiale SA-365-N2 accident near Ogden, Utah, September 10, 1993
On September 10, 1993 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Aerospatiale SA-365-N2 (helicopter), registered N818R, was destroyed in an accident near Ogden, Utah. It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed, 2 people were seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS GLASSY WATER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 1993 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ogden, Utah
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed, 2 people were seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA-365-N2
- Registration
- N818R · registry record · serial 6377
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A FLIGHT FOR THE PURPOSE OF AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY, THE HELICOPTER WAS FLYING OVER GLASSY WATER CONDITIONS. THE PILOT HAD SET THE BUG ON THE RADAR ALTIMETER FOR 50 FEET; HOWEVER, WHILE HE WAS LOOKING OUTSIDE FOR REFERENCE, THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED BELOW 50 FEET. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SUDDENLY HAD A SENSATION OF MOVEMENT OVER THE WATER, AND JUST SECONDS BEFORE IMPACT WITH THE WATER, THE PILOT NOTED TEN FEET ABOVE WATER LEVEL ON THE RADAR ALTIMETER.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,066 hours in all; 233 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 7,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 462 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 28, 1993; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,370 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL 1C2 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from OGD, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 | 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.