# Accident 20050924021289A: Hughes 369E, Medford, OR, September 24, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 24, 2005, 09:30 local time
- Place: Medford, OR
- Airport: Medford-Jackson County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Go Round (Aborted VFR)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.3583° N, 122.9833° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3583&lon=-122.9833&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5207C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5207C-2018-02-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes Helicopters 369E (registry code 4470707, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-369e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20 series (registry code 03020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369E
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,473 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 174 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA05CA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05CA200) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050924021289A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PRIOR TO DEPARTING ON A FAR PART 91 FLIGHT, THE PILOT OBTAINED A "SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE" AND REPORTED CLEAR OF KMFR CLASS "D" AIRSPACE TO THE WEST REMAINING CLEAR OF CLOUDS IN CLASS G AIRSPACE. PILOT OBSERVED A CAUTION LIGHT FLICKER ON THE INSTRUMENT CONSOLE. PILOT ELECTED TO EXECUTE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO AN OBSERVED SUITABLE CLEARING. WHILE IN A LEFT TURN IN AN AUTOROTATIVE APPROACH AT APPROXIMATELY 50 FOOT ALTITUDE, FOG ROLLED IN UNDER THE AIRCRAFT AND OBSCURED THE LANDING AREA. THE PILOT TERMINATED THE APPROACH, BECAME SPATIALLY DISORIENTED, AND THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED AND STRUCK TREES. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## 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 SEA05CA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05CA200), Sep 24, 2005: McDonnell Douglas 369E (N5207C), Medford, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: In-flight collision with terrain during a precautionary landing. Factors include instrument meteorological conditions and pilot disorientation.

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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