Mcdonnell Douglas 369E accident near Lakecreek, Oregon, March 7, 1995
On March 7, 1995 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas 369E (helicopter), registered N59HS, was destroyed in an accident near Lakecreek, Oregon. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN. A FACTOR WAS THE TRANSMISSION LINES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 7, 1995 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Lakecreek, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas 369E
- Registration
- N59HS · registry record · serial 0221E
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ON A LOCAL PRACTICE FLIGHT. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ALMOST DIRECTLY BENEATH TRANSMISSION LINES, THE LOWEST WHICH WAS NO MORE THAN 26 FEET AGL. WRECKAGE DISTRIBUTION INDICATED A SLOW VELOCITY OR HOVER CONDITION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE LOWER VERTICAL STABILIZER STINGER TUBE WAS FOUND IMBEDDED IN THE SOIL ALONGSIDE A GOUGE MADE BY THE TAIL ROTOR IMPACTING THE GROUND. THE BOTTOM WIRE WAS SEVERED WHEN ONE OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRIKING THE GROUND SEPARATED AND IMPACTED THE WIRE DURING ITS FREE FLIGHT.
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; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,968 hours in all; 44 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 9,631 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 680 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1995; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MFR Medford OR at 8:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from MFR, 12 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.
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.