Enstrom 280C accident near Ontario, California, March 1, 1986
On March 1, 1986 at about 6:44 am local time, a Enstrom 280C (helicopter), registered N5694R, was destroyed in an accident near Ontario, California (Ontario Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- March 1, 1986 · about 6:44 am local time
- Place
- Ontario, California · Ontario Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom 280C · all 280Cs on the register
- Registration
- N5694R · no longer on the register · serial 1199
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BFR DEPTG TUCSON, AZ ON A RETURN FLT TO LONG BEACH, CA, 2 STUDENT HELICOPTER PLTS (THE OWNERS) WERE ADVISED VFR FLT WAS NOT RCMDD DUE TO LOW CEILING/VIS AT THE DESTN. NEITHER PLT WAS ENDORSED FOR X-COUNTRY FLT. EN ROUTE, THEY LNDD/REFUELED AT GILA BEND & PARKER, AZ. AT 2124 PST, THEY TOLD TRACON THEY WERE VFR AT 4500' & RCVD VECTORS TO LONG BEACH. HOWEVER, DRG ARRIVAL, THE ARPT WAS NOT VISIBLE DUE TO A 500' OVERCAST. THE CREW RPRTD 40 MIN OF FUEL REMAINING & REQD VECTORS TO THE NEAREST ARPT WITH VFR CONDS. ONTARIO INTL & NORTON AFB WERE THE ONLY ARPTS IN THE AREA WITH NO CEILING; BOTH WERE RPRTG APRX 1 MI VIS WITH FOG & HAZE. THE CREW DIVERTED TO ONTARIO & WERE CLRD FOR A SPECIAL VFR DSCNT TO RWY 26L. ABOUT 3 MIN LATER, WHILE DSCNDG THRU 2000', THEIR CLNC WAS AMENDED DUE TO POSSIBLE CONFLICTING TRAFFIC. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, RADIO & RADAR CONTACT WITH THE ACFT WERE LOST. AT 0151, THE ACFT WAS FND APRX 1 MI SOUTH OF THE ARPT WHERE IT IMPACTED IN A NOSE LOW, LEFT BANK ATTITUDE. TESTS SHOWED 1 STUDENT (PRESUMED 2ND-IN-COMMAND) HAD A BLOOD/ALCOHOL LVL OF 0.160%.
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
- Flight time: 60 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 15 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,161 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 10, 1986; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-E1BD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P20 Parker AZ at 1:40 am
- Destination: LGB Long Beach CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26L, 10,200 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:46 am from ONT, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.