Hughes 269C accident near Galloway, Ohio, September 1, 1991
On September 1, 1991 at about 7:05 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N9590F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Galloway, Ohio (Darby Dan airport). It was an instructional 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
IMPROPER SUPERVISION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND CONTACT AND A DYNAMIC ROLLOVER. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE NON-RATED STUDENT PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 1991 · about 7:05 pm local time
- Place
- Galloway, Ohio · Darby Dan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N9590F · no longer on the register · serial 340285
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT AND INSTRUCTOR WERE ON THEIR FIRST DUAL FLIGHT. THE STUDENT WAS ON THE FLIGHT CONTROLS WHEN THE HELICOPTER DRIFTED RIGHT AND THE RIGHT SKID CAUGHT THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER ENTERED A DYNAMIC ROLLOVER. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR SAID HE WAS MONITORING THE MOVEMENTS OF THE STUDENT, HOWEVER, HE SAID HE HAD LET THE STUDENT GO TOO FAR PRIOR TO TAKING CORRECTIVE ACTION.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,550 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 4,255 as pilot in command; 1,600 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-DIA (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: T-Air Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.