Texas Helicopter OH-13E accident near Byron, Illinois, August 6, 2003
On August 6, 2003 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Texas Helicopter OH-13E, registered N38096, was substantially damaged in an accident near Byron, Illinois (Thrifty Acres Stolport airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot not attaining translational lift during the takeoff. A factor was the high gross weight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 2003 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Byron, Illinois · Thrifty Acres Stolport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Texas Helicopter OH-13E
- Registration
- N38096 · registry record · serial 77-005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain shortly after takeoff. The helicopter was conducting an aerial application flight and had just been loaded with chemical. The helicopter took off, but was not able to climb. It descended into the ground, and rolled onto it's side. Subsequent to the accident, the main rotor blades were found to be contaminated with insect remains. No other anomalies were found.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin O-355 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Byron IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from RFD, 66 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.
Other NTSB records under N38096 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.