Hughes 269C accident near Tampa, Florida, July 2, 1982
On July 2, 1982 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N7469F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tampa, Florida (Vandenberg airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 1982 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tampa, Florida · Vandenberg · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N7469F · no longer on the register · serial 170-554
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE ON A SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT. WITNESSES REPORTED A THUNDERSTORM IN PROGRESS WITH WINDS GUSTING TO 15 KNOTS. THE PILOT LANDED TO THE SOUTH ALTHOUGH HE STATED THE WINDS WERE FROM THE NORTHWEST. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE REVEALED NO PREXISTING MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.
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
- Flight time: 290 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 256 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,512 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Helicopter Support Systems, In
The flight
- Departed from: X16 Tampa FL at 1:45 pm
- Destination: X16 Tampa FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,260 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 165°F (74°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 1:51 pm from TAP, 9 miles away
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.