# NTSB ANC82FA036: Hughes 369D, N11058, Near Tanana, AK, April 11, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 11, 1982, 17:35 local (21:35 UTC)
- Place: Near Tanana, AK
- Coordinates: 65.180534, -152.070098 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.1805&lon=-152.0701&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 11, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71941
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC82FA036
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71941/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC82FA036

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON A SNOW COVERED MOUNTAIN SLOPE WHILE IN A STEEP LEFT BANK/NOSE LOW TURN. THE 1754 AST WEATHER AT TANANA, AK (19 NM SSE) WAS, IN PART: 1800 FT BROKEN, 3500 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 7 MI WITH LIGHT SNOW, WIND 320 DEG AT 18 KTS. FLIGHT ADVISORIES WERE POSTED FOR SOME TURBULENCE IN THE AREA, AND THERE WERE STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENTS WHICH WERE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY LOW LEVEL WINDS. SNOW AND SNOW SHOWERS PERSISTED IN THE AREA WELL BEYOND THE ESTIMATED TIME OF THE CRASH. THE ELEVATION OF THE AIRPORT AT TANANA WAS 227 FT MSL, THE CRASH SITE WAS AT ABOUT 2550 FT MSL. DURING AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE, NO PREIMPACT FAILURES WERE FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N11058 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 210901D
- Airframe hours: 653
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Tundra Copters, Inc.
- Registered owner: Paul R. Briles, Inc.
- Departed: BANDDANACK, AK
- Destination: FAI, FAIRBANKS, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 3,954 total, 963 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Temperature: 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TAL, 19 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820411009129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820411009129A), Apr 11, 1982: Hughes 369D, Tanana, AK, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Helicopter crashed during adverse weather conditions. Pilot had reported winds at 40 knots gusting to 50 knots.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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