Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 accident near Van Horn, Texas, August 18, 1994
On August 18, 1994 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 (helicopter), registered N435FH, was destroyed in an accident near Van Horn, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE UNCORRECTED DESCENT BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN TYPE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 1994 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Van Horn, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 · all FH-1100s on the register
- Registration
- N435FH · no longer on the register · serial 143
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED EL PASO, TEXAS, ON A FLIGHT TO THE DALLAS, TEXAS, AREA. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE 'AIRCRAFT GOING SOUTHEAST, IT THEN MADE A SUDDEN TURN TO THE RIGHT AND STARTED A 30 TO 40 DEGREE DOWN FLIGHT.' A POST IMPACT FIRE DESTROYED THE HELICOPTER. THE PILOT WAS NOT CERTIFICATED IN HELICOPTERS, AND HE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY ENDORSED BY A CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR FOR LOCAL SOLO FLIGHT ONLY. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REPORTED HE HAD GIVEN THE PILOT 10 TO 15 HOURS OF FLIGHT TRAINING. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER AND ENGINE DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL ANOMALIES.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,650 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,530 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C18 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ELP El Paso TX
- Destination: Dallas TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 16 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from MRF, 62 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.