Hughes 369D accident near Caliente, California, November 27, 1983
On November 27, 1983 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N1112B, was destroyed in an accident near Caliente, California. It was a business 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
- November 27, 1983 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Caliente, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N1112B · registry record · serial 610969D
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
REPORTLY, THE PLT HAD INSTRUCTED THE GROUND CREW TO PLACE THE EXTERNAL CABLE\SLINGS IN THE CARGO AREA OF THE HELICOPTER. HOWEVER, THEY CONNECTED THE CABLE TO THE EXTERNAL HOOK. THE PLT WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS & TOOK OFF. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE CABLE HIT THE TAIL ROTOR & BECAME WRAPPED AROUND THE AFT SECTION OF THE HELICOPTER. THE PLT STATED THAT HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AFTER TAKING OFF, BUT AT 1ST, EVERYTHING SEEMED OK. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, WHILE DESCENDING, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO YAW. HE TRIED TO FLY THE HELICOPTER AWAY FROM A TREE LINE. HOWEVER, HE LOST CONTROL, THE CRAFT BEGAN TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, IT CRASHED INTO A CLEARING.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,641 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 175 in the last 90 days; 9,641 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 696 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 13, 1983; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison C-20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
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.