# NTSB WPR25FA190: MD Helicopters 369E, N411WJ, Meeker, CO, June 25, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report - Date: June 25, 2025, 10:01 local (16:01 UTC) - Place: Meeker, CO - Coordinates: 40.088235, -107.84329 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0882&lon=-107.8433&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: MD Helicopters, Federal Aviation Administration, Rolls-Royce Corporation - NTSB case key (mKey): 200397 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25FA190 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200397/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25FA190 ## Preliminary report On June 25, 2025, about 1001 mountain daylight time, an MD Helicopters 369E, N411WJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Meeker, Colorado. The pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the airport manager, he did not see the helicopter depart from Meeker Coulter Field Airport (EEO) Meeker, Colorado, but did see that the helicopter dolly was outside the pilot’s hangar. Later in the day he received an inquiry from the wife of the pilot asking about her husband. An alert notification was published by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and a private party search for the pilot began that involved the use of two airplanes. The search continued until dark and resumed on the following day. The wreckage was found on the morning of June 26, 2025. A review of ADS-B data showed the helicopter in the EEO traffic pattern. The helicopter cycled the traffic pattern twice then departed on the downwind leg during its third pass. The helicopter proceeded to the northeast and began a climb. When the helicopter was about 5 miles from the airport it began a shallow left turn of about 180° and continued to climb to a maximum altitude of about 10,350 ft mean sea level (msl). When the turn was complete, the helicopter was oriented on a heading pointing back to the airport. The helicopter then began a descent that continued to the end of the ADS-B data. The last data point recorded the helicopter about 7,950 ft msl, at an approximate groundspeed of 87 knots and about 1 mile northeast of the accident site. Examination of the accident site revealed the helicopter impacted rocky, hilly terrain and came to rest on its right side on a northwest heading at an elevation of about 6,842 ft msl and about 200 ft southwest of the first ground scar. The tail rotor assembly and about two feet of the tailboom were separated from the helicopter and were collocated with the first ground scar. Fragments of the helicopter were located within the debris path between the fuselage and the tail rotor assembly. The helicopter was recovered to a secure facility for further examination. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [MD Helicopters 369E, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3030008), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N411WJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N411WJ), registered now, S/N 0620E, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MD HELICOPTERS INC 369E - Registry model: [MD Helicopters 369E](https://openairdocs.org/model/md-helicopters-369e) (registry code 3030008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C20B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20b) (registry code 54385, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0620E - Year built: 2014 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: EEO, Meker, CO - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KEEO, 3 nm away - METAR: KEEO 251553Z AUTO 24003KT 10SM CLR 21/01 A3019 RMK AO2 SLP137 T02060011 $ ## 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 20250625018389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250625018389A), Jun 25, 2025: Md Helicopters Inc 369E, Meeker, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The private pilot informed his spouse that he was going on a flight to practice autorotations. During the practice, the aircraft was observed via ADS-B… 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.