# NTSB SEA87FA162: Hughes 369D, N58318, Ketchikan, AK, August 12, 1987 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: August 12, 1987, 13:21 local (21:21 UTC) - Place: Ketchikan, AK - Coordinates: 55.609397, -131.58049 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.6094&lon=-131.5805&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 19, 1989 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 40531 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA87FA162 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40531/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA87FA162 ## Analysis (aircraft 2) N58318 (HUGHES 369, UNDER CONTRACT WITH US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY) WAS INBND FM SE TO LND AT KETCHIKAN-TEMSCO HELIPORT (6Z4) AS N73WS (CESSNA 185 AMPHIBIAN) WAS DEPG SE FM KETCHIKAN INTL ARPT (KTN). KTN & 6Z4 WERE LOCATED IN TONGASS NARROWS WITHMTNS NE & SW. RPRTD WX WAS: 500' SCT, 1100' BKN, 2200' OVC, VIS 5 MI WITH LGT RAIN & FOG, CIG RAGGED. FOR A VFR APCH TO 6Z4 (APRX 1-1/2 MI NORTH OF KTN ARPT), N58318 HAD TO GO UP THE NARROWS & OVR OR NR KTN. KTN HAD NO CTL TWR, BUT SUB- PART M OF FAR 93 REQD 2-WAY RDO COMM WITH KTN FSS, WHILE OPERG BLO 3000' & W/I 3 MI OF KTN. AT 1318:58, N58318 RPRTD AT GRAVINA PT (APRX 4 MI SE OF KTN) & THE FSS PROVIDED TRAFFIC ADZY. AT 1319:19, N73WS RPRTD INTENTIONS TO DEPART FROM KTN & WAS GIVEN A TRAFFIC ADZY, INCLUDING INFO CONCERNING N58318. N73WS DEPD KTN, USING PARALLEL TWY NEXT TO RWY 11, IAW LTROF AGREEMENT. NRLY 1 MI SE OF KTN, THE TWO COLLIDED AS N58318 WAS FLYING NEAR THE EXTDD CNTRLN OF RWY 11. N58318 CRASHEDIN WTR; N73WS RETURNED & CRASH LNDD AT KTN. FIVE ACFT IN VCNTY OF KTN; FAA DATA INDCD HVY TRAFFIC AT KTN FM MAY TO SEP. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) N58318 (HUGHES 369, UNDER CONTRACT WITH US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY) WAS INBND FM SE TO LND AT KETCHIKAN-TEMSCO HELIPORT (6Z4) AS N73WS (CESSNA 185 AMPHIBIAN) WAS DEPG SE FM KETCHIKAN INTL ARPT (KTN). KTN & 6Z4 WERE LOCATED IN TONGASS NARROWS WITHMTNS NE & SW. RPRTD WX WAS: 500' SCT, 1100' BKN, 2200' OVC, VIS 5 MI WITH LGT RAIN & FOG, CIG RAGGED. FOR A VFR APCH TO 6Z4 (APRX 1-1/2 MI NORTH OF KTN ARPT), N58318 HAD TO GO UP THE NARROWS & OVR OR NR KTN. KTN HAD NO CTL TWR, BUT SUB- PART M OF FAR 93 REQD 2-WAY RDO COMM WITH KTN FSS, WHILE OPERG BLO 3000' & W/I 3 MI OF KTN. AT 1318:58, N58318 RPRTD AT GRAVINA PT (APRX 4 MI SE OF KTN) & THE FSS PROVIDED TRAFFIC ADZR. AT 1319:19, N73WS RPRTD INTENTIONS TO DEPART FROM KTN & WAS GIVEN A TRAFFIC ADZY, INCLUDING INFO CONCERNING N58318. N73WS DEPD KTN, USING PARALLEL TWY NEXT TO RWY 11, IAW LTROF AGREEMENT. NRLY 1 MI SE OF KTN, THE TWO COLLIDED AS N58318 WAS FLYING NEAR THE EXTDD CNTRLN OF RWY 11. N58318 CRASHEDIN WTR; N73WS RETURNED & CRASH LNDD AT KTN. FIVE ACFT IN VCNTY OF KTN; FAA DATA INDCD HVY TRAFFIC AT KTN FM MAY TO SEP. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, cruise - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - control tower - unavailable - traffic advisory - performed, atc personnel(fss) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water - Midair collision, takeoff - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - control tower - unavailable - traffic advisory - performed, atc personnel(fss) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - gear extension - not possible - terrain condition - runway ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N58318](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N58318-1997-09-10), registration cancelled 1997-09-10, S/N 590499D (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D - Registry model: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (registry code 4470706) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 590499D - Airframe hours: 3910 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Temsco Helicopters - Registered owner: Temsco Helicopter - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 29, 1987, 11 hours before - Departed: ANNETTE ISLAND, AK - Destination: KETCHIKAN, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: KTN, Ketchikan Intl ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N73WS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73WS-2020-04-03), registration cancelled 2020-04-03, S/N 18501645 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 185E - Registry model: [Cessna 185A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-185a) (registry code 2072804) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18501645 - Airframe hours: 7111 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Ketchikan Air Service - Registered owner: Ketchikan Air Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 27, 1987, 68 hours before - Destination: HUMPBACK LAKE, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: KTN, Ketchikan Intl ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N58318; age 45; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 6,800 total, 4,700 in this make and model, 6,800 as pilot in command, 145 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N73WS; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 20,239 total, 12,203 in this make and model, 19,689 as pilot in command, 88 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,100 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: KTN, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19870812044052A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870812044052A), Aug 12, 1987: Hughes 369D, Ketchikan, AK, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Head on collision with a Cessna 185 N73WS helicopter had radio and lights on at cruise altitude. N73WS was in climb - [Accident 19870812044051A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870812044051A), Aug 12, 1987: Cessna 185A, Ketchikan, AK, Substantial damage. Head on collision with a Hughes helicopter N58318 during climbout. Pilot stated he never saw the helicopter. 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.