Bell UH-1B accident near Oldtown, Maryland, May 22, 1989
On May 22, 1989 at about 11:08 am local time, a Bell UH-1B (helicopter), registered N508SC, was destroyed in an accident near Oldtown, Maryland. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE OBSTRUCTION (INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE OBSTRUCTION (STATIC WIRES), AND THE LACK OF VISUAL CUES FOR THE PILOT TO DETECT THE WIRES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 1989 · about 11:08 am local time
- Place
- Oldtown, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell UH-1B · all UH-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N508SC · registry record · serial 60-3594
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE SPRAYING OVER HILLY/WOODED TERRAIN FOR CONTROL OF GYPSY MOTHS, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TWO 3/8 INCH SHIELD CABLES (ATOP A PWR LINE) NEAR THE BOUNDARY OF THE AREA TO BE SPRAYED. WITNESSES SAW SPRAY COMING OUT OF THE SPRAY BOOMSAT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION. THE NOSE OF THE HELICOPTER THEN RAISE UP & FELL TO THE RIGHT BEFORE THE HELICOPTER CRASHEDON THE SIDE OF A HILL. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE HELICOPTER WAS FOUND. THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A WIRE CUTTER KIT.
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; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,014 hours in all; 1,429 in this make and model; 17 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,362 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 18, 1989; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming LTC-1K-1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Precision Air Services, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Warrior Mtn MD at 10:40 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:26 am from CBE, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.