Hughes 269C accident near Folsom, California, January 2, 1993
On January 2, 1993, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N7462F, was destroyed in an accident near Folsom, California. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILING TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT RESULTING IN THE HELICOPTER COLLIDING WITH ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION WIRES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 2, 1993
- Place
- Folsom, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N7462F · no longer on the register · serial 560511
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND A PASSENGER DEPARTED A PRIVATE HELIPORT LOCATED AT THE PILOT'S HOUSE FOR AN AIRBORNE CATTLE HERDING OPERATION. THE PILOT DROPPED HIS PASSENGER OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO DIVERT CATTLE WITH HIS HELICOPTER. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE HAD FLOWN IN THIS AREA FOR ABOUT 24 YEARS AND WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION WIRES IN THE AREA. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT AND A WITNESS SAID THE SKY WAS OVERCAST AND THE WIRES BLENDED IN WITH THE GRAY SKY. HE SAID HE ASCENDED TO AN ALTITUDE ABOVE THE WIRES TO DETERMINE HOW TO DESCEND AND MANEUVER TO 'CUT OFF' A STRAY COW. DURING THE DESCENT, THE PILOT SAID HE BECAME 'EXTREMELY SURPRISED TO SEE WIRES ABOUT 40 FEET DEAD AHEAD.' THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TWO OF THE TRANSMISSION WIRES ABOUT 80 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND THEN ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT UNTIL COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 15,475 hours in all; 4,754 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 14,475 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,201 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 23, 1992; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Rancho Murieta CA at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.