NTSB Final Report: Fort Worth, TX
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Location:
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Fort Worth, Texas
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Accident Number:
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CEN26LA203
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Date & Time:
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May 27, 2026, 08:48 Local
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Registration:
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N5488H
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Aircraft:
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ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Defining Event:
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Dynamic rollover
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Injuries:
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1 Serious, 1 Minor
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Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional
Analysis
The flight instructor stated that his student was practicing hovering in the helicopter. While hovering, the helicopter began to “slide down and to the left”. As the flight instructor gave verbal instructions to the student, the helicopter yawed to the right as the collective was pulled and moved to the left toward the ground. He said he remembered the left skid contacted the ground as he attempted to recover. The flight instructor believed that the skid caught on a crack in the pavement which resulted in the helicopter rolling to its left side.
The student pilot reported that while hovering the helicopter started to “veer to the right” and the instructor said, “my controls”. Just at that moment the helicopter rolled onto its side.
The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
In response to the accident, the operator instituted an internal review of hovering instruction methodologies, instructor intervention strategies, and low-hover risk mitigation procedures associated with primary and transition helicopter training. The organization implemented enhanced standardization measures focused on instructor recognition of early rollover precursors, intervention timing, verbal cuing techniques, and defined control transfer protocols during hover operations. Additional emphasis on dynamic rollover awareness, critical rollover angle recognition, and instructor decision-making during low altitude training events were also implemented.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action and the student pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control during hover.
Findings
Factual Information
History of Flight
Pilot Information
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Certificate:
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Commercial; Flight instructor
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Age:
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42,Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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None
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Seat Occupied:
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Left
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Restraint Used:
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5-point
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Instrument Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Second Pilot Present:
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Yes
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Instructor Rating(s):
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Helicopter; Instrument helicopter
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Toxicology Performed:
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|
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Medical Certification:
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Class 2 Without waivers/limitations
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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February 10, 2026
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Occupational Pilot:
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Yes
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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|
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Flight Time:
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1156 hours (Total, all aircraft), 21 hours (Total, this make and model), 1062 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 29 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 23 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
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Pilot Information
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Certificate:
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None
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Age:
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23,Female
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Airplane Rating(s):
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None
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Seat Occupied:
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Right
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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None
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Restraint Used:
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5-point
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Instrument Rating(s):
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None
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Second Pilot Present:
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Yes
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Instructor Rating(s):
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None
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Toxicology Performed:
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|
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Medical Certification:
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Class 3 Without waivers/limitations
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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February 28, 2026
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Occupational Pilot:
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No
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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|
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Flight Time:
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10 hours (Total, all aircraft), 3 hours (Total, this make and model), 0 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 10 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 10 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
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Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
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Aircraft Make:
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ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO
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Registration:
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N5488H
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Model/Series:
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R66
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Aircraft Category:
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Helicopter
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Year of Manufacture:
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2025
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Amateur Built:
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Airworthiness Certificate:
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Normal
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Serial Number:
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1639
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Landing Gear Type:
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Skid
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Seats:
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5
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Date/Type of Last Inspection:
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May 4, 2026 Annual
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Certified Max Gross Wt.:
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2700 lbs
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Time Since Last Inspection:
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40 Hrs
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Engines:
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1 Turbo shaft
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Airframe Total Time:
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330 Hrs at time of accident
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Engine Manufacturer:
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Rolls Royce
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ELT:
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C126 installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
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Engine Model/Series:
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250-C300A/1
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Registered Owner:
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HIGGINS LEASING INC
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Rated Power:
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300 Horsepower
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Operator:
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Helicopter Institute, Inc.
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Operating Certificate(s) Held:
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Commuter air carrier (135), Pilot school (141)
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Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
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Conditions at Accident Site:
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Visual (VMC)
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Condition of Light:
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Day
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Observation Facility, Elevation:
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KAFW,707 ft msl
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Distance from Accident Site:
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0 Nautical Miles
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Observation Time:
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09:00 Local
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Direction from Accident Site:
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353°
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Lowest Cloud Condition:
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Few / 5000 ft AGL
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Visibility
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10 miles
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Lowest Ceiling:
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Broken / 25000 ft AGL
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Visibility (RVR):
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|
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Wind Speed/Gusts:
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6 knots / None
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Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
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/
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Wind Direction:
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140°
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Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
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/
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Altimeter Setting:
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29.94 inches Hg
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Temperature/Dew Point:
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23°C / 19°C
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Precipitation and Obscuration:
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No Obscuration; No Precipitation
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Departure Point:
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Fort Worth, TX
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Type of Flight Plan Filed:
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None
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Destination:
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Fort Worth, TX
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Type of Clearance:
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VFR
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Departure Time:
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Type of Airspace:
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Class D
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Airport Information
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Airport:
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PEROT FLD/FORT WORTH ALLIANCE AFW
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Runway Surface Type:
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Airport Elevation:
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723 ft msl
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Runway Surface Condition:
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Unknown
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Runway Used:
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IFR Approach:
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None
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Runway Length/Width:
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VFR Approach/Landing:
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None
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Wreckage and Impact Information
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Crew Injuries:
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1 Serious, 1 Minor
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Passenger Injuries:
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N/A
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Aircraft Fire:
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None
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Ground Injuries:
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N/A
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Aircraft Explosion:
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None
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Total Injuries:
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1 Serious, 1 Minor
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Latitude, Longitude:
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32.990307,-97.319429
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Administrative Information
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Investigator In Charge (IIC):
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Brannen, John
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Additional Participating Persons:
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Mike Lepore; FAA - NTX FSDO; Irving, TX
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Original Publish Date:
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September 11, 2026
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Last Revision Date:
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Investigation Class:
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Class 4
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Note:
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The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.
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Investigation Docket:
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https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203076
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