Hughes 269C accident near Wingate, North Carolina, June 9, 1985
On June 9, 1985 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N9588F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wingate, North Carolina. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 1985 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wingate, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N9588F · no longer on the register · serial 1050442
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT & PASSENGER CONSUMED SEVERAL BEERS SHORTLY BEFORE BOARDING THE HELICOPTER FOR A FLT IN THE LOCAL AREA. THE FLT LASTED APRX 15 MIN. THE PASSENGER REPORTED THAT DURING A LANDING, THE SKID ON THE RIGHT SIDE CONTACTED THE GROUND CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO ROLL TO THE RIGHT. THE OWNER OF THE HELICOPTER STATED THAT THE PLT HAD BEEN EMPLOYED ON A PART TIME BASIS TO GIVE FLT INSTRUCTION, BUT HE (THE PLT) WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO TAKE THE HELICOPTER ON THIS FLT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,996 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 21, 1985; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N9588F the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.