Hughes 369A accident near Perry, WV
On June 7, 2001, a Hughes 369A (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Perry, WV. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 7, 2001
- Place
- Perry, WV
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369A · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.490°N, 80.954°W
- NTSB ID
- 20010626X01256
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 7, 2001, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Hughes 369A (OH-6A) helicopter, N58963, operated by Saber Executive Helicopters, was destroyed during collision with mountainous terrain in Perry, West Virginia. The certificated commercial pilot was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the positioning flight that originated at Capital City Airport (CXY), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. No flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. During a telephone interview, the operator said the pilot had conducted aerial film work the previous week at an automobile race in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. After the race, the pilot was allowed to fly to Honesdale, Pennsylvania, conduct a personal business transaction, and then return to perform aerial film work in Bristol, Tennessee, on the evening of June 7, 2001. The helicopter departed the Cherry Ridge Airport (N30) sometime on the morning of the accident, and landed at the Capital City Airport for a fuel purchase. The helicopter departed CXY, at 0938, destined for the Tri-Cities Airport (TRI), Bristol, Tennessee. Examination of fuel records, and a conversation with the fixed-base operator at CXY, revealed the helicopter was "topped off" with 37 gallons of Jet A aviation fuel, at 0930. During a telephone interview, a retired U.S. Army aviator who flew the OH-6 helicopter, said he witnessed an OH-6 helicopter fly southwest past his home in Wardensville, West Virginia, about 1030, on the morning of the accident. The crash site was approximately 6 miles southwest of Wardens
Probable cause
The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain terrain clearance. A contributing factor was mountainous terrain.
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Browse: West Virginia · Hughes aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
