Hughes 269C accident near San Diego, CA
On April 23, 1996, a Hughes 269C (helicopter) was involved in an accident near San Diego, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 23, 1996
- Place
- San Diego, CA
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 32.789°N, 117.059°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X05597
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 23, 1996, at 1600 hours Pacific daylight time, a Hughes 269C, N9579F, collided with a fence between two residences in San Diego, California, after an in-flight loss of control while orbiting out of ground effect. The helicopter was destroyed. The certificated commercial pilot was fatally injured and one passenger was seriously injured. The helicopter was rented from Civic Helicopters, Carlsbad, California, by the pilot for a personal flight. The flight originated from Montgomery Field in San Diego at 1540, and was destined for Carlsbad after completing an aerial video shoot at a local hospital. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The pilot departed Carlsbad about 1000. Review of data downloaded from the pilot's global positioning system (GPS) receiver revealed the pilot had flown north from Carlsbad along the Pacific coast to Los Angeles. The GPS data indicated the pilot landed at the Fullerton Municipal Airport and then headed south along the coast to San Diego. The data revealed the helicopter made eight clockwise orbits around the Kaiser Permanente Hospital located across the street from the accident site. The accident occurred in the beginning of the ninth orbit as the helicopter was traveling east over Zion Avenue. A videotape was recovered from the helicopter. The tape illustrated portions of the helicopter's flight, but did not record the helicopter's descent before impact. The tape did show that the helicopter was orbiting the hospital at a low altitude. The altitude was constant in relation to the elevation of the hosp
Probable cause
the decision of the pilot to fly at low altitude and low airspeed within a hazardous performance area published in the pilot operating handbook. Factors in the accident were tailwinds, lack of operator preventative maintenance impairing engine power, airworthiness of the restraint systems, and the pilot's use of prescription drugs that can impair human performance.
More accidents in CA
- Douglas MD-83, Feb 1, 2000
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32, Aug 31, 1986
- British Aerospace BAE-146-200, Dec 8, 1987
- Beech C-99, Aug 24, 1984
- Sikorsky S-61N, Aug 6, 2008
Browse: California · 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.
