# Accident 20151221020709A: Schweizer 269C, Warrenton, MO, December 21, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 21, 2015, 21:30 local time
- Place: Warrenton, MO
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.7147° N, 91.1736° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7147&lon=-91.1736&mi=10
- Aircraft: N292B, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N292B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schweizer 269C (registry code 8059502, https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HIO-360 series (registry code 41524, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER 269C
- Reported engine: LYCOMING HIO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 300 total, 200 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN16LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA084) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151221020709A

## Narrative

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

PILOT OF N292B DEPARTED HELISAT FLIGHT TRAINING PAD AT APPROXIMATELY 21:15 CST ON 12-21-15 FOR A NIGHT CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT TO A PRIVATELY OWNED HELIPAD CLOSE TO WAYNESVILLE, MO. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE CHECKED THE WEATHER AND THAT IT WAS FORECASTED TO BE GOOD FOR THE ENTIRE FLIGHT. ABOUT 15 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT THE PILOT STARTED TO LOSE VISUAL GROUND CONTACT AS HE APPROACHED THE MISSOURI RIVER. HE REDUCED POWER AND AIRSPEED AND TRIED TO DESCEND TO REGAIN GROUND CONTACT. HE THEN TRIED TO CLIMB OUT OF THE CLOUDS BUT THAT WAS ALSO UNSUCCESSFUL. HE TURNED 180 DEGREES IN HOPES TO EXIT THE FOG THE SAME WAY HE ENTERED IT. HE SAID THAT HE WAS RAPIDLY LOSING SPATIAL ORIENTATION AND ESTIMATED THAT HE WAS IN THE FOG FOR ABOUT 8 TO 10 MINUTES. THE FIRST IMPACT WAS THE TREE TOPS ABOUT 200 TO 250 YARDS FROM THE FINAL CRASH SITE. THE INITIAL IMPACT BROKE OUT THE WINDSCREEN. HE ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB BUT WAS UNABLE TO OUT CLIMB THE RISING TERRAIN BECAUSE HE SAID THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, POSSIBLY DUE TO DAMAGE TO THE TAIL ROTOR. WHEN THE PILOT KNEW A CRASH WAS IMMINENT, HE DECIDED TO REDUCE THE COLLECTIVE AND THROTTLE, THEN SPIN THE HELICOPTER TO THE LEFT TO PLACE THE TAIL INTO THE IMPACT ZONE IN HOPES TO PROTECT THE FRONT OF THE HELICOPTER.

THE PILOT ONLY RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES AND WAS TREATED BY THE PARAMEDICS.

## 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 CEN16LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA084), Dec 22, 2015: Schweizer 269C (N292B), Warrenton, MO, destroyed. Probable cause: The noninstrument-rated pilot's continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions at night, which resulted in the loss of visual reference to the ground and his subsequent failure to…

## Other reports on N292B (1)

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

- [Accident 20070628831969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070628831969A), Jun 28, 2007: Hughes 269C (N292B), Slidell, LA, Substantial damage. (-23) Single-engine helicopter encountered settling with power resulting in a hard landing on a marsh land. The 3400 hour commercial pilot was hovering the…

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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