Hughes 269A accident near Jacksonville, Florida, August 25, 1989
On August 25, 1989 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Hughes 269A (helicopter), registered N9014N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jacksonville, Florida. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOK-OUT BY THE PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER, WHILE MANEUVERING TO AVOID OBSTRUCTIONS. THE TRANSMISSION LINES WERE CONSIDERED TO BE FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 1989 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269A · all 269As on the register
- Registration
- N9014N · no longer on the register · serial 94-0316
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER PILOT WAS ON AN AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT & DESCENDED TO ABOUT 50 FT AGL TO SHOW HIS PASSENGER A MONITORING STATION. HE DID NOT SEE TRANSMISSION LINES AHEAD UNTIL A COLLISION WAS EMINENT. HE PULLED UP TO AVOID A SET OF TELEPHONE LINES & SAW POWER LINES DIRECTLY AHEAD. HE ATTEMPTED A QUICK STOP MANEUVER TO AVOID THE POWER LINES, BUT LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. IT THEN STRUCK THE GROUND & ROLLED OVER.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 502 hours in all; 502 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 440 as pilot in command; 61 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,575 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 28, 1989; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-BIA (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: City Of Jacksonville
The flight
- Departed from: Jacksonville FL at 12:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from CRG, 7 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.
Other NTSB records under N9014N 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.