Amateur-built ROTORWAY EXEC accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, May 14, 1989
On May 14, 1989 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built ROTORWAY EXEC (helicopter), registered N28276, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Sundance Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE DURING THE HOVER TAXI.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 1989 · about 9:00 pm local time · cases in 1989
- Place
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · Sundance Airpark · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ROTORWAY EXEC ROTORWAY E
- Registration
- N28276 · no longer on the register · serial 3074
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NONRATED PILOT WAS MANEUVERING THE HELICOPTER, IN A HOVER TAXI, FROM SIDE TO SIDE, WHEN THE RIGHT SKID CAUGHT IN THE GRASS AND DIRT. THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER. THE PILOT WOULD NOT PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING HIS FLIGHT EXPERIENCE OR TRAINING BACKGROUND.
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 30, 1983
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RW-145 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N28276: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Engine: Rotorway RW-145 9 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Avian Country Estates Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Oklahoma 1,300 since 1982 · 181 in the last ten years
- Oklahoma 5,658 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW89DPJ04.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.