Hughes 269A accident near Ozark, Alabama, May 9, 1988
On May 9, 1988 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Hughes 269A (helicopter), registered N1038Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ozark, Alabama. It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- May 9, 1988 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ozark, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269A · all 269As on the register
- Registration
- N1038Y · no longer on the register · serial 660583
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT A MECHANIC REPAIRED THE LEFT MAGNETO. HE REINSTALLED IT AND TIMED IT WITH THE RIGHT MAGNETO. BOTH MAGNETOS WERE FOUND TO HAVE ADVANCED TIMING. INTERNAL EXAMINATION SHOWED DISCREPANCIES WHICH WOULD LEAD TO ELECTRICAL BREAKDOWN. AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE BACKFIRED AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND ATTEMPTED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A BACKUP AUTOROTATION TO A RUN-ON LANDING. EXAMINATION OF THE CRASH SITE DEMONSTRATED THAT THE VERTICAL DESCENT WAS STOPPED, HOWEVER, THE FORWARD VELOCITY WAS NOT. AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE HELO SLID THROUGH A DITCH. COLLISION WITH THE FAR SIDE OF THE DITCH RESULTED IN FATAL IMPACT FORCES TRANSMITTED TO THE PILOT IN COMMAND.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,856 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,034 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 22, 1987; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Dale County Sheriff
The flight
- Departed from: 71J Ozark AL at 2:30 pm
- Destination: 1J0 Bonifay FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 am from DHN, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.