# NTSB DEN80FTC22: Aerospatle 315B, N3602C, Afton, WY, July 17, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: July 17, 1980
- Place: Afton, WY · AFTON, WY
- Location: 42.7263° N, 110.9320° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Afton, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7263&lon=-110.9320&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 3, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 129594
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN80FTC22
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FTC22

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1980  80/7/17  NR.AFTON,WY           AEROSPATLE 315B     CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 36, 3896
        TIME - 1515                    N3602C              PX-  0  0  0  CONSTRUCTION              TOTAL HOURS, 484 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         AFTON,WY                     LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     TAKEOFF: VERTICAL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
          MISC-LONG LINE CABLE POSITIONED OUTSIDE OF SKID
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LATERAL IMBALANCE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
                                  LATERAL CONTROL PROBLEM
        REMARKS- PART 133,EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3602C (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATLE 315B
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- 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 19800717026269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800717026269A), Jul 17, 1980: Aerosp SA315B, Afton, WY, Substantial damage. Lifted external load. Long line caught on skid, pulled helicopter down into trees. Failed to dump load.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.