Hughes 500C accident near Branson, Missouri, October 8, 1988
On October 8, 1988 at about 4:50 pm local time, a Hughes 500C (helicopter), registered N506WW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Branson, Missouri (Table Rock Heliport airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- October 8, 1988 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Branson, Missouri · Table Rock Heliport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 500C
- Registration
- N506WW · no longer on the register · serial 150699S
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED FOR SIGHTSEEING WITH 5 PASSENGERS ONBOARD. THE PILOT TURNED ON FINAL APPROACH WITH 35 KNOTS OF AIRSPEED AND ENCOUNTERED A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE NOTED A SPLIT TACH AND INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION, BUT WAS OUTSIDE THE ENVELOPE FOR A SAFE RECOVERY. THE SKIDS COLLAPSED IN THE RESULTING HARD LANDING, AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. METAL FLECKS WERE FOUND IN THE FREEWHEELING SPRAG ASSEMBLY, WHICH HELD VERY LITTLE OIL, BUT NO EVIDENCE OF SLIPPAGE WAS FOUND.
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; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,064 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 270 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 1,591 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,745 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 17, 1988; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tablerock Helicopters INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,900 ft; scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:48 pm from SGF, 46 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 | 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.