Schweizer 269C accident near Rock Hill, South Carolina, May 20, 1991
On May 20, 1991 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N7507J, was destroyed in an accident near Rock Hill, South Carolina. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT DIVERTED HIS ATTENTION TO A POISONOUS SNAKE IN THE COCKPIT AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1991 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Rock Hill, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N7507J · registry record · serial S1364
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS FLYING AN AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT. HE TURNED ON THE COCKPIT HEAT. A COPPERHEAD SNAKE EMERGED FROM THE HEAT VENT NEAR HIS FEET. AS THE PILOT MANEUVERED TOWARDS A LANDING AREA, THE SNAKE APPEARED POISED TO STRIKE. HE TRIED TO STEP ON THE SNAKE WITH HIS FOOT AND SUBSEQUENTLY LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED TREES AND TERRAIN AND WAS DESTROYED. THE SNAKE WAS NOT FOUND AFTER THE ACCIDENT. DRUG, ALCOHOL, AND SNAKE VENOM TESTING ON THE PILOT WAS NEGATIVE.
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; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,700 hours in all; 1,800 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 5,660 as pilot in command; 1,600 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,056 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 14, 1991; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Dooley Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 29J at 1:30 pm
- Destination: GMU Greenville SC
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from CLT, 13 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.