Mcdonnell Douglas 369HS accident near Modesto, California, July 9, 1990
On July 9, 1990 at about 4:55 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas 369HS (helicopter), registered N505WW, was destroyed in an accident near Modesto, California. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IN-FLIGHT ENGINE FIRE OF UNDETERMINED ORIGIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 1990 · about 4:55 pm local time
- Place
- Modesto, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas 369HS
- Registration
- N505WW · no longer on the register · serial 150698S
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGERS DETECTED THE ODOR OF SMOKE AS THE HELICOPTER CIRCLED WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT. THE PILOT ENTERED A PRECAUTIONARY APPROACH AND LANDED IN A VACANT PASTURE. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD AND THE IN-FLIGHT FIRE CONSUMED THE AIRCRAFT'S CABIN/ENGINE SECTION. GROUND WITNESSES CONFIRMED THAT AN IN-FLIGHT FIRE ERUPTED PRIOR TO THE AIRCRAFT LANDING.
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: 2,397 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 2,122 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C18 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SCK Stockton CA at 4:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:50 pm from MOD, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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 N505WW 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.