Hughes 269A1A accident near Coal Valley, Illinois, July 10, 1985
On July 10, 1985 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Hughes 269A1A (helicopter), registered N8951F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coal Valley, Illinois. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- July 10, 1985 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Coal Valley, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269A1A · all 269A1As on the register
- Registration
- N8951F · no longer on the register · serial 150027
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION RUN THE PLT REPORTED A 'SPLIT SECOND LOSS OF POWER.' HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND IT SETTLED INTO TALL CORN. IMPACT RESULTED IN LOSS OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES, SEVERENCE OF THE TAIL CONE AND SEPARATION OF THE SKIDS. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL, ENG COMPONENTS AND AN ENG RUN DISCLOSED NO FAILURE/MALFUNCTION.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 477 hours in all; 469 in this make and model; 105 in the last 90 days; 430 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 30, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 4,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aztec Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: Genesco IL at 11:15 pm
- Destination: Coal Valley IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:23 pm from ORD, 120 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.
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.