Hughes 269C accident near Shreveport, Louisiana, August 24, 1990
On August 24, 1990 at about 10:48 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N223TV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shreveport, Louisiana. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 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 CLEARANCE FROM THE OBSTRUCTION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LACK OF VISUAL QUES DUE TO THE LIGHT CONDITIONS AT DUSK, THE GROUND OBSERVER'S LACK OF ASSISTANCE AND LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION, AND THE OBSTRUCTION (TRANSMISSION LINE).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 1990 · about 10:48 pm local time
- Place
- Shreveport, Louisiana
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N223TV · registry record · serial 1290868
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT & A PHOTOGRAPHER WERE ON A TRAFFIC WATCH/PHOTO FLT. A REQUEST WAS MADE FOR THE PLT TO LAND IN A PARKING LOT TO DELIVER VIDEO TAPES TO A GROUND CREW. A RELATIVELY NEW GROUND OBSERVER WAS TO HELP KEEP THE HELICOPTER CLEAR OF OBSTACLES. THE PLT SAID HE WAS TOLD THE SELECTED LANDING AREA WAS CLEAR & THAT HE PERFORMED A 'HIGH RECONNAISSANCE CHECK FOR OBSTRUCTIONS.' HOWEVER, DURING AN APPROACH TO LAND AT DUSK, NEITHER THE PLT NOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER SAW POWER LINES THAT CROSSED THE LANDING AREA UNTIL MOMENTS BEFORE THE SKIDS SNAGGED THE POWER LINES. THE HELICOPTER THEN CRASHED TO THE GROUND.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,350 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 2,260 as pilot in command; 400 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,735 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 13, 1990; 84 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.