Hughes OH-6A accident near Sunland Park, New Mexico, June 13, 1992
On June 13, 1992 at about 7:06 pm local time, a Hughes OH-6A (helicopter), registered N10436, was destroyed in an accident near Sunland Park, New Mexico. It was a public-use flight 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'S FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE WIRES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 1992 · about 7:06 pm local time
- Place
- Sunland Park, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes OH-6A · all OH-6As on the register
- Registration
- N10436 · registry record · serial 02731
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING FLOWN ON A U. S. BORDER PATROL SURVEILLANCE MISSION WHEN IT STRUCK TWO STATIC LINES OF A POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. THE 125 FOOT HIGH LINES WERE STRUNG ACROSS A DRAW AND SUPPORTED BY TOWERS LOCATED ON MOUNTAINS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE DRAW. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A WIRE STRIKE PROTECTION SYSTEM AND EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT ONE OF THE STATIC LINES WAS ENGAGED AND CUT BY THE UPPER CUTTER. HOWEVER, THE EVIDENCE ALSO INDICATED THAT THE SECOND STATIC LINE STRUCK THREE OF THE FOUR BLADES OF THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM. THE BLADES SUBSEQUENTLY DEPARTED THE HUB AND THE MAIN TRANSMISSION SEPARATED FROM THE AIRFRAME.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,146 hours in all; 2,203 in this make and model; 88 in the last 90 days; 57 in the last 30 days; 12,146 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,684 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 10, 1992; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C18 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ELP El Paso TX at 4:12 pm
- Destination: ELP
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from ELP, 15 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.