Enstrom F-28A accident near Danbury, Texas, April 22, 1990
On April 22, 1990 at about 2:40 am local time, a Enstrom F-28A (helicopter), registered N287Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Danbury, Texas (Private airport). It was a positioning 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
PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID WIRES DURING THE FINAL STAGE OF AN APPROACH TO A CONFINED AREA. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DISREGARD OF THE OPERATOR'S INSTRUCTIONS AFTER HE LANDED THE FIRST TIME.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 1990 · about 2:40 am local time
- Place
- Danbury, Texas · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28A · all F-28As on the register
- Registration
- N287Q · no longer on the register · serial 303
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A NIGHT LANDING TO THE OPERATOR'S PRIVATE STRIP AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAXI TO THE HELIPAD. INSTEAD, HE TOOK OFF AGAIN AND EXECUTED AN APPROACH TO A CONFINED AREA ADJACENT TO THE STRIP. THE PILOT THEN DISREGARDED THE OPERATOR'S RADIO INSTRUCTIONS TO LEAVE THE AIRCRAFT THERE AND PROCEEDED TO TAKE OFF AND EXECUTE TWO MORE APPROACHES TO THE AREA. ON THE THIRD APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK POWER LINES THAT WERE STRUNG THROUGHOUT THE AREA AND CRASHED. THE PILOT OFFERED NO EXPLANATION FOR HIS BEHAVIOR OR DISREGARD OF THE OPERATOR'S INSTRUCTIONS.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,729 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 1,659 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 2:35 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 am from HOU, 30 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.
Other NTSB records under N287Q the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.