Hughes 269C accident near Camp Verde, Arizona, November 16, 1992
On November 16, 1992 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered CGGLF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Camp Verde, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOTS INTENTIONAL MANEUVERING FLIGHT AT A ALTITUDE INADEQUATE TO ENSURE TERRAIN CLEARANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 16, 1992 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Camp Verde, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- CGGLF · no longer on the register · serial 108-1000
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CANADIAN PILOT AND HIS WIFE WERE TOURING THE COUNTRY WITH ANOTHER COUPLE WHO ALSO HAD A HELICOPTER, BOTH BEING TRAILERED. THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER HAD A VIDEO CAMERA TAPED TO A SKID. WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE HELICOPTERS DOING A LOW LEVEL RUN TOWARDS RISING TERRAIN. THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER WAS OBSERVED TO HIT ITS TAIL BOOM SKID ON THE GROUND. THE TAIL BOOM THEN SEPARATED FROM THE HELICOPTER AND WAS LOCATED SOME DISTANCE BEHIND THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THE COCKPIT AND FORWARD FUSELAGE TUMBLED END OVER END ONCE AND CAME TO REST. THE PILOT REFUSED TO DISCUSS THE ACCIDENT CIRCUMSTANCES OR FILE A REPORT WITH FAA INSPECTORS OR THE SAFETY BOARD. THE HELICOPTER WRECKAGE WAS REMOVED WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION BY UNKNOWN PERSONS TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION.
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: foreign licence, private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 14,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from PRC, 30 miles away
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.
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.