Hiller UH12E accident near San Diego, California, June 23, 1983
On June 23, 1983 at about 7:56 pm local time, a Hiller UH12E (helicopter), registered N4036A, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Diego, California (Montgomery Field). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- June 23, 1983 · about 7:56 pm local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · Montgomery Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH12E · all UH12Es on the register
- Registration
- N4036A · registry record · serial 5206
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER DURING AN AUTOROTATIVE FORCED LANDING AFTER A POWER LOSS. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT THE PLT SAID HE CHECKED THE FUEL QUANTITY ON THE ACFT. TAKEOFF WAS AT ABOUT 1222 PDT. AT 1256 PDT THE PLT ARRIVED AT DESTINATION AND ADVISED THE TOWER THAT HE WAS LOW ON FUEL. IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER THE ACFT ENGINE QUIT. THE FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON ARPT PROPERTY. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE ACFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT. HE REPORTED THAT THERE WAS ABOUT 1 PINT OF FUEL IN THE MAIN TANK AND LESS THAN ONE QUART OF FUEL IN EACH OF THE TWO AUX TANKS. THE PLT DID NOT FILE AN ACCIDENT REPORT ON NTSB FORM 6120.1 AS REQUIRED.
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: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 18 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 26, 1983; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540-C2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NFG Oceanside CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from MYF
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.