Hughes 369D accident near Kemah, Texas, July 26, 1983
On July 26, 1983 at about 3:45 am local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N1109, was involved in an accident near Kemah, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 26, 1983 · about 3:45 am local time
- Place
- Kemah, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N1109 · no longer on the register · serial 1200856D
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT HAD LANDED IN A RESTAURANT PARKING LOT. WHEN HE WAS INFORMED THAT A LOCAL ORDINANCE HAD BEEN PASSED PROHIBITING HELICOPTER OPERATIONS FROM RESTAURANT PARKING LOTS & THAT THE POLICE HAD BEEN CALLED, HE PREPARED TO TAKEOFF. AS THE PLT WAS PREPARING TO LIFT OFF, A PERSON APROACHED THE HELICOPTER TO PROTEST ITS OPERATION NEAR HIS TRAILER HOUSE & TOLD THE PLT NOT TO TAKE OFF. THE PLT STATED HE WAS AFRAID FOR HIS SAFETY & LIFTED OFF TO A HOVER & BACK DOWN 'A COUPLE OF TIMES' UNTIL THE PERSON JUMPED OFF. THE PERSON EITHER JUMPED OR FELL ABOUT 20 FT & WAS INJURED.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,800 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 95 in the last 90 days; 4,685 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 390 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 14, 1982; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 am from EFD, 12 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.