Hughes 300/269C accident near Freeport, Illinois, August 13, 1984
On August 13, 1984 at about 1:00 am local time, a Hughes 300/269C (helicopter), registered N1105X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Freeport, Illinois. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- August 13, 1984 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Freeport, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 300/269C
- Registration
- N1105X · registry record · serial 1025
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED TO GIVE SIGHT SEEING RIDES AT ALBERTUS AIRPORT. THE TWO PAX ONBOARD ASKED THE PLT TO PROVIDE AN EXCITING RIDE. THE PLT STATED THAT HE INTENDED TO DEMONSTRATE AN AUTOROTATION TO A CORN FIELD AND MAKE A PWR RECOVERY. AFTER FLARING AND APPLYING PWR THE A/C SETTLED INTO THE CORN. AS THE PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO FLY OUT OF THE CROPS, THE AFT 2 FT OF THE TAIL BOOM AND THE TAILROTOR SEPARATED. HE LOST CONTROL AND THE HELICOPTER SPUN UNTIL IT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 367 hours in all; 183 in this make and model; 69 in the last 90 days; 261 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,034 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 28, 1984; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FEP Freeport IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,100 ft; clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 pm from RFD, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.