Hughes 369D accident near Pryor, OK
On December 5, 2025, a Hughes 369D (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Pryor, OK. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- December 5, 2025
- Place
- Pryor, OK
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 36.221°N, 95.252°W
- NTSB ID
- 20251205202111
NTSB summary
On December 5, 2025, about 0858 central standard time, a Hughes 369D, N161LA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Pryor, Oklahoma. The pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial observation flight. According to the operator, the helicopter departed from a landing zone about 1 mile from the accident site, about 28 minutes prior to the accident. The purpose of the flight was to visually monitor power line replacement operations. According to multiple witnesses who were employed by the power line company, the helicopter was hovering above and alongside the power distribution line being constructed. During the hover, the helicopter was moving at a slow rate of speed, about 4 knots, while the pilot was observing a device called a “sock,” being pulled along the power distribution line by ground based equipment. The witnesses reported that the helicopter suddenly pitched up to a near inverted attitude, flew backward, then turned and pitched straight down, toward the ground. They described the sequence as if it looked like the helicopter “flipped over on its back and fell to the ground.” Examination of the accident site revealed that the helicopter impacted an open field, in a nose low attitude, about 250 ft south of the power distribution line where the ‘sock’ was being observed. The first identifiable point of contact (FIPC) was a ground impression with various fragments of debris consistent with the forward fuselage and cabin area, and ground penetration scars consistent with the
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Browse: Oklahoma · 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.
