Hughes 269A accident near Pittstown, New Jersey, August 21, 1988
On August 21, 1988 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Hughes 269A (helicopter), registered N7028V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pittstown, New Jersey (Sky Manor airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- August 21, 1988 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pittstown, New Jersey · Sky Manor
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269A · all 269As on the register
- Registration
- N7028V · registry record · serial 760622
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI WAS DEMONSTRATING A DEPARTURE AUTOROTATION TO A PROSPECTIVE STUDENT. A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT WITH LOW AIRSPEED AND LOW ROTOR RPM DEVELOPED AND THE CFI ATTEMPTED A POWER RECOVERY WITH NO RESULTS. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD, THE SKIDS COLLAPSED AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. THE PLT DID NOT REPORT ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEM BUT DID MENTION THAT SHIFTING WINDS MIGHT HAVE BEEN ENCOUNTERED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,500 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 5,320 as pilot in command; 2,300 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,002 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 20, 1988; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-8IA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N40 at 10:20 pm
- Destination: N40
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N7028V 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.