Hiller-Osborn UH-12D accident near Rio Medina, Texas, December 2, 1991
On December 2, 1991 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Hiller-Osborn UH-12D (helicopter), registered N67065, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rio Medina, Texas (San Geronimo airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE DURING TOUCHDOWN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 1991 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rio Medina, Texas · San Geronimo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller-Osborn UH-12D
- Registration
- N67065 · registry record · serial 1023
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AN AIRPLANE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT WAS PERFORMING A NORMAL LANDING APPROACH ON THE FIRST SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT IN A HELICOPTER. THE PILOT USED EXCESSIVE AFT CYCLIC DURING THE LANDING FLARE, RESULTING IN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRIKING THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT AND TAILBOOM.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 437 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 387 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-AC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- 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.
Other NTSB records under N67065 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.