Hiller UH-12B accident near Durham, California, July 7, 1985
On July 7, 1985 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12B (helicopter), registered N1048P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Durham, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- July 7, 1985 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Durham, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12B · all UH-12Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1048P · registry record · serial 635
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THE LCL FLIGHT WAS FOR THE CFI TO DEMO THE NEWLY ACQUIRED HELICOPTER TO ITS OWNER. THE CFI REPORTED THAT DURING THE FLT A 'SOMEWHAT COMMON' VIBRATION WAS DETECTED, & HE ASSOCIATED THE VIBRATION WITH THE ACFT'S WOODEN MAIN ROTOR BLADES. HE FURTHER REPORTED THAT HE MAY HAVE BEEN DISTRACTED BY THE VIBRATION, & HE FAILED TO OBSERVE THE POWER LINES WHICH WERE IN THE LANDING APPROACH PATH. AT ABOUT 60 FT AGL THE ACFT'S MAST COLLIDED WITH THE WIRES. CONTROL WAS LOST, & DURING THE HARD LANDING THE BLADES FLEXED DOWN CUTTING OFF THE TAIL BOOM.
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: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 728 hours in all; 44 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,089 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 5, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Durham CA at 11:25 pm
- Destination: Durham CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N1048P 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.