# NTSB DEN81FA001: Hughes 369HS, N9153F, Silverton, CO, October 4, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 4, 1980
- Place: Silverton, CO · SILVERTON, CO
- Location: 37.8108° N, 107.6650° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Silverton, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8108&lon=-107.6650&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 10, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127523
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FA001
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FA001

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3782   80/10/4 NR.SILVERTON,CO       HUGHES 369HS        CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1015                    N9153F              PX-  3  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            43, 7183 TOTAL HOURS, 336
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HOWARDSVILLE,CO             LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - OTHER
        REMARKS- OIL EXPLORATION FLT.DEVIATED TO SIGHTSEE,MOUNTAINOUS TRRN.WATCHING VEHICLE ON ROAD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9153F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9153F-1983-11-23), registration cancelled 1983-11-23, S/N 930513S (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369HS
- Registry model: [Hughes 369HS](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-369hs) (registry code 4470728) (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 19801004049809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801004049809A), Oct 4, 1980: Hughes 369HS, Silverton, CO, Substantial damage, 3 fatal. Helicopter struck high tension wires and crashed during low level operation.

## Other investigations on N9153F (2)

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.

- [NTSB CHI77FEV33](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FEV33), Jul 8, 1977: Hughes 369C (N9153F), Mackinaw, IL, substantial damage
- [NTSB MKC76DCQ51](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC76DCQ51), May 18, 1976: Hughes 369 (N9153F), Elkhart, KS, substantial damage

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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