# NTSB ATL81FA114: Hughes 269C, N7497F, Falls Mill, WV, September 11, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 11, 1981
- Place: Falls Mill, WV · FALLS MILL, WV
- Location: 38.7737° N, 80.5498° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Falls Mill, WV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7737&lon=-80.5498&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 16, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123019
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL81FA114
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FA114

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3191  81/9/11    FALLS MILL,WV       HUGHES 269C         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 30, 820
        TIME - 1505                    N7497F              PX-  1  0  0  AERIAL SURVEY             TOTAL HOURS, 115 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SUTTON,WV                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- PLT & SHERIFF SEARCHING FOR MARIJUANA FLDS,HIT PWR LNS BTN 2 HILLS.PWR LN 300FT ABV ROAD BTN HILLS
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7497F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7497F-1982-02-25), registration cancelled 1982-02-25, S/N 570598 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Registry model: [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (registry code 4470504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19810911059789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810911059789A), Sep 11, 1981: Hughes 269C, Falls Mills, WV, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck wires during low altitude search for marijuana fields. Blew up and burned. Wires stretched across river.

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.

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