Hughes 269B accident near Salesville, Arkansas, July 15, 2008
On July 15, 2008 at about 2:26 pm local time, a Hughes 269B (helicopter), registered N469E, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Salesville, Arkansas. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the crossing transmission line.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 2008 · about 2:26 pm local time
- Place
- Salesville, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269B · all 269Bs on the register
- Registration
- N469E · no longer on the register · serial 45-0186
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot flew to an off-airport location to pick up an electrical company employee. After being on the ground about eight minutes, the pilot and passenger then flew power line patrol looking for vegetation encroachment. One hour and 36 minutes after taking off one of the helicopter's main rotor blades impacted the middle strand of a crossing high voltage transmission line. The helicopter was destroyed by impact forces and postimpact fire. The impacted transmission line was approximately 100 feet above and crossed perpendicularly to the transmission line they were following. Examination of the helicopter wreckage revealed no preexisting anomalies that would have contributed to the accident.
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
- Preflight or dispatch event during prior to flight
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Awareness of condition
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Flight planning/navigation › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,320 hours in all; 134 in the last 90 days; 78 in the last 30 days; 1,268 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 30, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 24, 2008
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Ozark Mountain Helicopters, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: NA Willow Springs MO at 12:48 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KBPK, 10 miles away
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.