Schweizer 269 C-1 accident near Sunol, CA
On July 4, 2008, a Schweizer 269 C-1 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Sunol, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 4, 2008
- Place
- Sunol, CA
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269 C-1 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 37.562°N, 121.905°W
- NTSB ID
- 20080710X01015
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 04, 2008, about 0030 Pacific daylight time, a Schweizer 269C-1, N2011A, collided with transmission wires while en route over the Sinclair Freeway Interstate 680 (I-680) in Sunol, California. Following the collision, the helicopter was consumed by fire and destroyed. Silicon Valley Helicopters was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The certificate flight instructor (CFI) and pilot undergoing instruction were killed. The night cross-country flight originated from Byron Airport, Byron, California, about 1130 on July 03, and was destined for the operator's base at Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County, San Jose, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The night cross-country flight originated from San Jose en route on a 50-mile flight to Metropolitan Airport, Stockton, California. Thereafter, the pilots flew about 22 miles to Byron and refueled the helicopter. The CFI telephoned his spouse from the airport and indicated he would arrive back in San Jose in 45 minutes. A National Transportation Safety Board investigator interviewed a witness immediately following the accident. The witness recalled observing a small helicopter ahead of him while driving his automobile southbound on the I-680. He noted the fog was low and the helicopter remained under the clouds. The helicopter's ground speed began to slow and in reaction he slowed his automobile to about 50 mph, thinking that the helicopter may be having an emergency and needing to land. The w
Probable cause
The pilots' failure to maintain adequate clearance from transmission wires during cruise flight. Contributing to the accident were the dark night and low fog.
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Browse: California · Schweizer 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.
