# Accident 19960423008079A: Hughes 269C, San Diego, CA, April 23, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 23, 1996, 16:00 local time
- Place: San Diego, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Settle With Power (Rotorcraft)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: DCQA
- Location: 32.7894° N, 117.0592° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7894&lon=-117.0592&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9579F, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9579F-1996-08-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes 269C (registry code 4470504, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Reported engine: LYC HIO360D1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 722 total, 42 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX96FA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96FA177) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960423008079A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

PHOTO FLIGHT CRASHED ORBITING HOSPITAL. SLOW AND LOW SETTLED WITH POWER. ENGINE STUCK VALVE. TRACES OF MEDICATIONS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX96FA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96FA177), Apr 23, 1996: Hughes 269C (N9579F), San Diego, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the decision of the pilot to fly at low altitude and low airspeed within a hazardous performance area published in the pilot operating handbook. Factors in the accident were tailwinds, lack of…

## Other reports on N9579F (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19930227007169I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930227007169I), Feb 27, 1993: Hughes 269C (N9579F), Rancho Santa Fe, CA, Minor damage. Pilot contact the ground with tail rotor during a simulated failed tail rotor approach demonstration.
- [Incident 19911001051739I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911001051739I), Oct 1, 1991: Hughes 269C (N9579F), Rancho Santa Fe, CA, Minor damage. Practice pinnacle landing on unimproved field. Aircraft began shaking. Suspect ground resonance. Main rotor damaged

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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