Schweizer 269C accident near Warrenton, Missouri, December 22, 2015
On December 22, 2015 at about 3:30 am local time, a 1989 Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N292B, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Warrenton, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The noninstrument-rated pilot's continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions at night, which resulted in the loss of visual reference to the ground and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 22, 2015 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Warrenton, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C UNDESIGNAT, built 1989 · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N292B · registry record · serial S1385
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The noninstrument-rated private pilot reported that he checked the local weather before he departed in his single-engine helicopter. He said that the weather was good (6 miles visibility and clear skies). Upon the night departure, there was a slight haze about 100 ft above ground level (agl), and he climbed the helicopter to his planned en route altitude of 2,000 ft agl. The first 15 minutes of the flight were uneventful. However, as the pilot approached a river basin area, he started to lose visual reference to the ground, but he thought it was just a small area of fog and that he could fly out of it. He tried to descend but could not see the ground through the fog/low clouds and initiated a climb. The helicopter's altitude ranged from about 1,200 to 2,000 ft agl. The pilot decided to turn around, and while making a slow right turn, the helicopter struck a tree. The pilot tried to initiate a climb, but the helicopter struck another tree. The pilot lowered the collective, and the helicopter descended through the trees to the ground. The nearest automated weather facility was located about 11 miles southwest of the accident site at an elevation about 200 to 250 ft lower than the accident site. The METAR observation about the time of the accident reported reduced visibility (5 statute miles with mist), a 1° dew point depression, and a cloud ceiling of 1,000 ft agl (which would have been about 750 ft above the accident site elevation). Given the reported weather information and the pilot's statements about the weather conditions, it is likely that the airplane entered instrument meteorological conditions near the accident area at night, which led to the pilot's loss of visual reference to the ground and the subsequent impact with trees and 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
What happened, in order
- VFR encounter with IMC during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Fog › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 16, 2015; 6,787 hours since
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360 (piston); 6,459 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M71 Moscow Mills MO at 3:00 am
- Destination: Waynesville MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 am from FYG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N292B the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.