Schweizer 269C-1 accident near Valencia, California, February 25, 2006
On February 25, 2006 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C-1 (helicopter), registered N61466, was destroyed in an accident near Valencia, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The certified flight instructor's failure to maintain an adequate clearance from objects.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 2006 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Valencia, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C-1 · all 269C-1s on the register
- Registration
- N61466 · no longer on the register · serial 0067
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certified flight instructor (CFI) was providing primary flight training to his pre-solo student. After departing from the Van Nuys Airport, the CFI proceeded to the Santa Clara River practice area. The helicopter impacted power lines during an undetermined phase of flight over the dry river bed. The power lines had been suspended from poles located north and south of the river bed. Following impact, the helicopter descended about 40 feet until impacting the ground on its right side. The student, who was located in the right seat, was fatally injured. The subsequent examination of the helicopter's airframe and engine assembly did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction. Wire mark striations were noted on a main rotor blade. Following the accident the operator (flight school) issued instructions to its employees regarding the location where off airport flight training was authorized. The accident site area was excluded from the authorized training area.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 220 hours in all; 143 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 168 as pilot in command; 5 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 4 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,075 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 1, 2005; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HO-360-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Group 3 Aviation, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA at 8:30 pm
- Destination: VNY Van Nuys CA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 28,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from VNY, 14 miles away
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.