Hughes 269A accident near Malibu, California, March 18, 1989
On March 18, 1989 at about 1:50 am local time, a Hughes 269A (helicopter), registered N8784F, was involved in an accident near Malibu, California. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER TO FOLLOW BRIEFED PROCEDURES AND THE FAILURE OF GROUND PERSONNEL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE ASSISTANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 1989 · about 1:50 am local time
- Place
- Malibu, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269A · all 269As on the register
- Registration
- N8784F · no longer on the register · serial 720110
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT REMAINED IN THE HELICOPTER FOR SHUTDOWN PROCEDURES. BEFORE THE ROTOR BLADES HAD STOPPED THE PASSENGER, WITH THE HELP OF A PERSON OUTSIDE, EXITED THE HELICOPTER. BEFORE CLEAR OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES, THE PASSENGER RAISED HER HAND. THE ROTOR CONTACTED HER LEFT HAND AND AMPUTATED HER THUMB AND INDEX FINGER.
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: multi-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,850 hours in all; 280 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,055 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 1988; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMO Santa Monica CA at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°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 N8784F 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.