What happened
On December 28, 2025, at 11:24 EST, an Enstrom F-28A helicopter, registration N520H, and an Enstrom 280C helicopter, N280MG, were involved in a midair collision near Hammonton, New Jersey. Both aircraft were being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use.
Preliminary ADS-B data indicates that both helicopters departed from Vineland-Downstown Airport (28N) at approximately 09:48 and flew parallel to Hammonton Municipal Airport (N81), arriving around 09:58. No ADS-B data was available for the aircraft following their subsequent departure from N81.
Surveillance video showed the two helicopters flying in close proximity on similar headings, appearing to fly in a staggered formation. The aircraft eventually converged and collided. Following the impact, one helicopter entered a tumbling descent toward the ground, while the other pitched up sharply before yawing clockwise and descending rapidly.
The collision resulted in 2 fatal injuries, as both pilots were killed.
The investigation
The accident site, located approximately 1.5 miles southwest of N81, contained a debris path roughly 1,211 feet long. This path included paint chips from both aircraft, portions of the main rotor blades from both helicopters, and parts of the tail cone and tail rotor blades from N2TR0MG.
The primary wreckage of N520H was located approximately 890 feet from the start of the debris path. This aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail cone, tail rotor, and main rotor. The aft portion of the tail cone had partially separated from the forward section, held only by a single tail rotor control cable, while the other cable showed signs of tensile overload. No fire was observed at this wreckage site.
The primary wreckage of N280MG was located about 270 feet from the wreckage of N520H. This helicopter was destroyed by a post-impact fire, which consumed most of the fuselage and main rotor system. While the tail cone remained relatively intact, it showed damage consistent with terrain impact and in-flight impact.
Examination of the main rotor skins on N520H revealed an impact mark with paint transfer matching the color of the tail rotor blade from N280MG.