Cessna C-152 and Hughes 269C accident near Lantana, Florida, September 19, 1985
On September 19, 1985 at about 2:05 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna C-152 (N49873) and Hughes 269C (N8376F), were involved in the same accident near Lantana, Florida (Palm Beach County Park airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were 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
- September 19, 1985 · about 2:05 pm local time
- Place
- Lantana, Florida · Palm Beach County Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna C-152
- Registration
- N49873 · no longer on the register · serial 15281374
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N8376F · no longer on the register · serial 480679
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna C-152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT, WITH A TOTAL OF ABOUT 14 HOURS INCLUDING 1.7 SOLO, WAS PRACTICING SOLO TOUCH-AND-GO'S WHEN HE SAW THE HELICOPTER HOVERING NEAR THE RWY. FEARING THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS GOING TO FLY OVER THE RWY, HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF, BUT IN DOING SO, LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE SWERVED OFF THE RWY AND COLLIDED WITH THE HOVERING HELICOPTER ABOUT 100 FEET NORTH OF THE EDGE OF THE RWY.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Hughes 269C final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS HOVERING AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT THREE FEET. APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET NORTH OF THE RWY. WHEN AN OUT-OF-CONTROL CESSNA 152 TORE OFF THEIR RIGHT LANDIND SKID. THE HELICOPTER LANDED SAFELY USING A WOODEN DOLLY FOR SUPPORT OF THE RIGHT SIDE.
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 for the Cessna C-152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 15 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,400 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 29, 1985; 105 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PBI West Palm Beach FL at 1:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,489 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; scat at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from PBI, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Hughes 269C from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,926 hours in all; 1,175 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 5,826 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,516 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 1985; 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: PBI West Palm Beach FL at 1:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
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.