Hiller UH-12C accident near Imperial, Texas, December 16, 1983
On December 16, 1983 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12C (helicopter), registered N63MC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Imperial, Texas. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- December 16, 1983 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Imperial, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12C · all UH-12Cs on the register
- Registration
- N63MC · registry record · serial 915
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE WAS IN CRUISE FLT AT 300 FT AGL, A SUDDEN VIOLENT SHUDDER WENT THRU THE WHOLE HELICOPTER, THEN THE SHUDDER STOPPED. HE NOTED NO CHANGE IN THE FLIT CHARACTERISTICS OR ENG POWER. THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING BY FLYING DIRECTLY TO THE GROUND WITH NO HOVER. DURING THE LANDING, THE TAIL BOOM STRUCK THE GROUND, THEN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM. NO CAUSE FOR THE 'SHUDDER' WAS FOUND.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,997 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 132 in the last 90 days; 4,997 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,941 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 25, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Franklin 6V4-200-C33 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Fort Stockton TX at 2:00 pm
- Destination: MAF Midland TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.