# NTSB OAK70D0122: Hiller Acft UH-12B, N4785C, Watsonville, CA, September 11, 1969

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 11, 1969
- Place: Watsonville, CA · WATSONVILLE, CA
- Location: 36.9236° N, 121.7724° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Watsonville, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9236&lon=-121.7724&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 25, 1970
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187012
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK70D0122
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK70D0122

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3125  69/9/11    WATSONVILLE,CALIF   HILLER ACFT UH-12B  CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 45, 5719
        TIME - 1045                    N4785C              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 271 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WATSONVILLE,CALIF           WATSONVILLE,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: CLEANUP SWATH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - LETTUCE                                   TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          GLOVES - USED                                            GOGGLES - USED
          CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED                            COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED
          CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED                                TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SLING LOADED
          TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT                                 ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  30
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4785C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4785C), registered now, S/N 312, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER ACFT UH-12B
- Registry model: [Hiller UH-12B](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12b) (registry code 4360110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Franklin 6V 350 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v-350-series) (registry code 27043, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## Other investigations on N4785C (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 OAK75DVA38](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK75DVA38), Dec 31, 1974: Hiller Acft UH-12C (N4785C), Kettlmn Cty, CA, destroyed

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.