Hughes 269C accident near Rocksprings, Texas, May 18, 1989
On May 18, 1989 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N58228, was destroyed in an accident near Rocksprings, Texas. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT DIVERTED HIS ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF THE HELICOPTER, FAILED TO MAINTIAN PROPER ROTOR RPM, AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE (CLEARANCE) ABOVE THE GROUND, WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS HIS IMPAIRMENT FROM USE OF A PRESCRIPTION DRUG (NORDIAZEPAM OR DIAZEPAM), WHICH WAS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH FLYING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 1989 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rocksprings, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N58228 · no longer on the register · serial 290771
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS FLYING LOW & HERDING ANTELOPE, WHEN THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE TERRAIN & WAS DESTROYED. HE WAS STILL CONSCIOUS AFTER THE ACDNT, BUT DIED ABOUT 3 HRS LATER. BEFORE DYING, HE SAID THE ENG HAD LOST POWER; HOWEVER, NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE LED TO A POWER LOSS. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE HELICOPTER HAD IMPACTED IN A LEFT BANK, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. ALL 3 MAIN ROTOR BLADES HAD EVIDENCE OF HIGH FLAPPING ANGLES AT IMPACT. TOXICOLOGY CHECKS OF THE PLT'S BLOOD, LIVER & KIDNEY REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF NORDIAZEPAM AT LEVELS OF 0.104 MG/L, 0.846 MG/L & 0.427 MG/L, RESPECTIVELY. THE TOXICOLOGIST RPRTD THE THERAPEUTIC RANGE FOR NORDIAZEPAM IN BLOOD WAS 0.02 TO 0.18 MG/L. NORDIAZAPAM IS A SEDATIVE & CNS DEPRESSANT WHICH IS NOT APPROVED FOR FLYING.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,450 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 11:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from ERV, 60 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.