Investigation Summary
Shortly after midnight on February 17, 1974, Robert Preston took advantage of an unguarded airfield at Tipton Field, Maryland, where thirty UH-1 helicopters were fueled and ready for flight. Preston, who had washed out of helicopter pilot training and was serving as a mechanic at Fort Meade, took off without lights or radio communication. He initially flew to Washington, D.C., where he hovered over the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument before briefly touching down on the White House South Lawn. After this initial breach, Preston flew back toward Maryland, leading police on a chase where he utilized aggressive flight maneuvers, including a head-on pass just inches above a police car. He eventually returned to the White House, intending to surrender to President Richard Nixon. As he hovered over the South Lawn for the second time, Secret Service agents opened fire with shotguns and submachine guns. Preston was hit in the foot by buckshot but managed to land the aircraft safely about 300 feet from the mansion. The incident exposed significant vulnerabilities in the protection of the White House against aerial intruders, as the Secret Service lacked a clear protocol for engaging aircraft at the time.
Final Conclusions
The incident was concluded to be a deliberate theft and unauthorized flight by a disgruntled soldier. Robert Preston pleaded guilty to wrongful appropriation and breach of the peace at a military court-martial. He was sentenced to one year in prison and fined $2,400. After serving six months (including time served during the trial), he served an additional two months at Fort Riley before being granted a general discharge from the Army for unsuitability. The helicopter, despite sustaining numerous bullet holes, was found to be flightworthy and was returned to service before eventually being placed on display at NASJRB Willow Grove.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Bell UH-1B Iroquois
A military utility helicopter known as the 'Huey', powered by a single turboshaft engine.
White House Security
At the time of the incident, there were no surface-to-air missiles installed around the White House, and protocols for aerial intruders were poorly defined.
Interesting Facts
- 01The pilot, Robert Preston, had failed his Army helicopter pilot training and was serving as a mechanic.
- 02The Secret Service fired shotguns and submachine guns at the helicopter during its second approach to the White House.
- 03Preston flew the helicopter at speeds ranging from 60 to 120 knots, sometimes just inches above the Baltimore–Washington Parkway.
- 04President Richard Nixon was not at the White House during the incident; he was in Florida at the time.
- 05The helicopter (62-1920) was repaired and returned to service after the incident.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Restricted Airspace Expansion
The Secret Service increased the size of the restricted airspace around the White House following the breach.
Engagement Protocol Revision
The incident led to a review and clarification of Secret Service policies regarding when to use lethal force against aerial intruders.
Location
APPROXIMATE POSITION · AIRPORT LEVEL · Coordinates are the estimate published in the entered by an editor. The ring shows the accuracy the record supports, not the point of impact.