# NTSB DEN80FA034: Hughes 500, N58245, Vernal, UT, May 18, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 18, 1980
- Place: Vernal, UT · VERNAL, UT
- Location: 40.4517° N, 109.5381° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Vernal, UT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4517&lon=-109.5381&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 12, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 130905
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN80FA034
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FA034

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1348  80/5/18  NR.VERNAL,UT          HUGHES 500          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 28, 3000
        TIME - 1900                    N58245              PX-  1  0  1  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 480 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ALTAMONT,UT                 MANILA,UT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-ON LANDING
           ROLL OVER                                                LANDING: POWER-ON LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRFRAME ICE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - WHITEOUT
           POWERPLANT - FUEL SYSTEM: FUEL CONTROL
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
                                  DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEM
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          FREEZING DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          NONE                                                     CALM
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- FREEZING MIST ACCUMULATED ON M/R BLADES.PIECE OF ALUM FOUND ON PG ORIFICE OF PWR TURBINE GOVERNOR.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N58245](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N58245-2017-02-22), registration cancelled 2017-02-22, S/N 807 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 500
- Registry model: [Mitsubishi A6M2-21](https://openairdocs.org/model/mitsubishi-a6m2-21) (registry code 5780500) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-1830 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-1830-series) (registry code 52020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19800518015289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800518015289A), May 18, 1980: Hughes 369D, Vernal, UT, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Made hard emergency landing in deep snow due to encountering icing conditions.

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

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