Hughes OH-6A accident near Hernando, Mississippi, September 7, 1999
On September 7, 1999 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Hughes OH-6A (helicopter), registered N584SD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hernando, Mississippi (Desoto County Helipad airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The in-flight encounter with weather that resulted in the loss of tail rotor control. The pilot failed to maintain directional control and the helicopter collided with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 1999 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hernando, Mississippi · Desoto County Helipad · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes OH-6A · all OH-6As on the register
- Registration
- N584SD · no longer on the register · serial 67-16449
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot, a volunteer with the sheriff's department, was conducting proficiency training when the accident occurred. According to the pilot, he had completed three approaches and was on the fourth approach when he encountered a dust devil along the approach path. After encountering the dust devil, when several feet above the ground, the helicopter yawed to the right. In an effort to recover from the yawed condition, the pilot instantly rolled off the throttle control, and the helicopter collided with the ground. No mechanical problems were reported with the helicopter by the pilot. The post-accident examination of the helicopter also did not disclose any mechanical problem.
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: private
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 523 hours in all; 523 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,914 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 24, 1998
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C-20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from MEM, 30 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.