Hughes 269C accident near Houston, Texas, July 20, 1983
On July 20, 1983 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N8995F, was destroyed in an accident near Houston, Texas. It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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 20, 1983 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N8995F · no longer on the register · serial 240278
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER CRASHED IN A RELATIVELY HIGH SPEED DESCENT WHILE IN A SLIGHT NOSE-LOW AND LEFT BANK ATTITUDE. THE ACFT HAD BEEN CIRCLING AT AN ALT OF ABOUT 600 FT MSL AWAITING CLEARANCE TO LAND. THE PIC IN THE LEFT SEAT, WHO WAS NOT FLYING THE ACFT, SAID HE FELT NO YAW OR CHANGE IN SOUND BUT SUDDENLY THE GROUND WAS COMING UP AND HE THOUGHT HE OBSERVEDLOW ROTOR RPM. THE NEXT THING HE REMEMBERS IS BEING IN PAIN ON THE GROUND ON HIS BACK. NEITHER THE ENGINE NOR THE ROTORSWERE OPERATING AT IMPACT AS VERIFIED BY OBSERVATION OF THE WRECKAGE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ENG AND ALL OF ITS ACCESSORIES WERE CAPABLE OF NORMAL OPERATION PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT.
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; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,845 hours in all; 257 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 896 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,635 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from HOU, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.