Hughes 269A accident near Agana, September 18, 1989
On September 18, 1989, a Hughes 269A (helicopter), registered N8134Y, was destroyed in an accident near Agana. It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE POWER LINE. THE POWER LINE WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 1989
- Place
- Agana
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269A · all 269As on the register
- Registration
- N8134Y · no longer on the register · serial 180763
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING OPERATED ON A VISUAL RECONNAISSANCE/ORIENTATION FLT WITH A PLT & A POLICE AGENT ABOARD. WHILE FLYING AT ABOUT 200 FT ABOVE THE FONTE RIVER (FOLLOWING A VALLEY), THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE THAT CROSSED THE RIVER. DURING IMPACT, THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM SEPARATED & THE HELICOPTER CRASHED IN DENSE JUNGLE. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS EVIDENT.
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: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 562 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 429 as pilot in command; 139 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,858 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PGUM Nas Agana OF
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 am from PGUM, 3 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.