Hughes 269C accident near Salinas, California, May 17, 1982
On May 17, 1982 at about 5:34 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N1105B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salinas, California (Salinas 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 1982 · about 5:34 pm local time
- Place
- Salinas, California · Salinas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N1105B · registry record · serial 411030
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO PRACTICE HOVERING. HE REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM 280 DEGREES AT 9 KNOTS. HE STATED THAT WHILE HOVERING, HE TURNED TO A DOWNWIND HEADING WHEN A GUST OF WIND SPUN THE HELICOPTER TO THE RIGHT. HE CORRECTED WITH THE LEFT PEDAL BUT THE HELICOPTER KEPT SPINNING TO THE RIGHT AS HE SET THE HELICOPTER ON THE GROUND, AND THE TAIL BOOM, TAIL ROTOR, SKIDS, AND LOWER FRAME WERE DAMAGED.
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: student
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 108 hours in all; 83 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 26 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 42 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SNS Salinas CA at 10:04 am
- Destination: SNS Salinas CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; not recorded
- 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 N1105B 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.