Hughes 500 accident near Andratx, Es, November 12, 2011
On November 12, 2011 at about 10:20 am local time, a Hughes 500 (helicopter), registered GWOOW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Andratx. It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. 2 people were killed.
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
- November 12, 2011 · about 10:20 am local time
- Place
- Andratx, Spain
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Hughes 500 E
- Registration
- GWOOW · no longer on the register · serial 0344E
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On November 12, 2011, approximately 1020 coordinated universal time, a Hughes 500E, British registration G-WOOW, impacted terrain under unknown circumstances near Andratx, Mallorca, Spain. The pilot and passenger were both fatally injured. A post crash fire ensued. The local flight departed the Son Bonet Airport (LESB), Palma, Mallorca, Spain. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Spanish government. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the Spanish government. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Comisión de Investigación de Accidentes e Incidentes de Aviación Civil (CIAIAC) C\ Fruela, 6 28011 Madrid TEL: 91 597 89 63 FAX: 91 463 55 35
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
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.