Robinson R44 accident near Ilimana, Alaska, March 12, 2006
On March 12, 2006 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered N7528Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ilimana, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's continued flight into adverse weather conditions, and his spatial disorientation and loss of control during a subsequent landing attempt. Factors associated with the accident are flat light and whiteout conditions, fog, and snow-covered terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 12, 2006 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Ilimana, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- N7528Z · registry record · serial 10384
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial helicopter pilot was flying one passenger on an on-demand, Title 14, CFR Part 135 air taxi flight to a remote site in an area surrounded by snow-covered, flat, featureless terrain. Low fog, reduced visibility, and flat light conditions reduced his ability to discern a horizon or terrain. He said that the visibility deteriorated to about 1 or 2 miles, and he was unable to discern any topographic features on the snow-covered terrain, and he elected to make a precautionary landing to wait for better visibility. After about 10 minutes, he decided to continue to his destination. Just after takeoff, flat light conditions again reduced his ability to recognize any topographical features on the snow-covered terrain. He reported that while he was attempting to establish a stable hover, and erroneously believing that the helicopter was not moving, the helicopter's right skid struck the snow-covered terrain. The helicopter rolled to the right, and the main rotor blades struck the ground. As the main rotor blades struck the ground, the helicopter rolled onto its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom assembly, and the main and tail rotor drive systems. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the helicopter.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,600 hours in all; 1,800 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 4,530 as pilot in command; 52 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,360 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ILI Iliamna AK at 5:05 pm
- Destination: ILI Ilimana AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft; scat at 100 ft
- Temperature: 23°F (-5°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.