Schweizer 269C accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, June 4, 2011
On June 4, 2011 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N6128U, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Las Vegas, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from terrain while attempting a transition from hovering flight to forward flight over a mesa in windy, downdraft conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 2011 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N6128U · registry record · serial S1655
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, while on a sightseeing flight he flew over a mesa and commenced a hover maneuver about 12 feet above a ridge line. When the wind speed increased he attempted to depart the area. The pilot stated that he encountered a strong downdraft in the estimated 20-knot wind. While flying toward lower elevation terrain on the lee side of the mesa in an effort to depart the area, the helicopter's skids impacted rocks and the helicopter 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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (hover) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Downdraft › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter
- Flight time: 31,000 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 23,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 27, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,020 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Airwork, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: VGT Las Vegas NV at 4:20 pm
- Destination: VGT Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 7 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.