Accident Details
On March 14, 2025, at approximately 0708 eastern daylight time, a Schweizer 269C helicopter (registration N262LH) was substantially damaged when it struck power lines and crashed into a reservoir near Mogadore, Ohio. The pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The helicopter was being operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The pilot departed from his home airport, Medina Municipal Airport (1G5) in Medina, Ohio, at about 0615. He flew to Wadsworth Municipal Airport (3G3) in Wadsworth, Ohio, to refuel before continuing to Portage County Airport (POV) in Ravenna, Ohio, where he planned to pick up a friend.
Flight Path and Witness Accounts
ADS-B data indicated that after takeoff from Wadsworth, the helicopter climbed to about 1,700 ft mean sea level (msl) and turned left onto a track of about 070° for 15 nautical miles. As it approached a reservoir, it began a right 360° descending turn, leveled off, and reestablished a northeast track before the data ended.
Several witnesses near the accident site reported that the helicopter passed low over the dam at an estimated altitude of about 20 ft above the water, then flew northeast over the water. One witness was in a fishing boat in the reservoir very close to the impact location. The witnesses described the conditions as "very dark" at the time. They observed the helicopter pass overhead, then it impacted power lines that ran roughly perpendicular to its flight path. The power lines spanned about 600 ft from the northwest shoreline to the southeast shoreline. The impact produced a large flash, and the helicopter descended in a nose-down attitude into the reservoir.
Wreckage and Site Examination
The helicopter came to rest in about 20 ft of water, approximately 200 ft from the northwest shore of the reservoir. The elevation at the accident site was about 1,080 ft msl. The helicopter struck the top static wire of the power lines, which was about 50 ft above the water's surface. Marker balls were not installed on the power lines at the time of the accident.
Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the cockpit area was crushed, with severe crush damage throughout the entire airframe. All three rotor blades showed signatures consistent with impact with water, but one blade had 12 wire striation marks on its leading edge, penetrating the blade skin. Three additional wire striation marks were found on the corresponding blade grips. The tail boom remained intact, though it had some torsional twisting damage near the tail rotor gearbox. Tail rotor blades also exhibited marks consistent with a wire strike, and a 1-inch area indicative of arc flash damage was observed. The engine was undamaged and secure on its mounts. The panel, position, and beacon light switches were in the On position.
Ambient Lighting Conditions
According to the United States Naval Observatory, night lighting conditions existed at the time of the accident. Civil twilight began at 0710, sunrise occurred at 0737, and the full moon set at 0748.