Schweizer 269C accident near Hiram, Georgia, May 16, 1994
On May 16, 1994 at about 11:20 am local time, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N160CA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hiram, Georgia. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadvertent flight from VMC conditions to IMC conditions by the pilot. A factor in the accident was the ground fog in the area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 1994 · about 11:20 am local time
- Place
- Hiram, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N160CA · registry record · serial S1554
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT FOLLOWING TAKEOFF FROM THE HELIPAD LOCATED AT HIS HOME, HE ENCOUNTERED ROLLING FOG. THE VISIBILITY IMMEDIATELY REDUCED TO LESS THAN THAT REQUIRED FOR FLIGHT UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT CONDITIONS. HE ATTEMPTED TO SLOWLY DESCEND TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TREES, AND THEN IMPACTED THE TERRAIN.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 725 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 895 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 29, 1994; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-DIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: NONE Villa Rica GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:30 am from FTY, 15 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.