Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Palmer, Alaska, June 30, 2025
On June 30, 2025 at about 4:05 am local time, a 2016 Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, registered N531AT, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Palmer, Alaska. It was a business flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s diverted attention during takeoff in flat light conditions, which resulted in a loss of visual reference with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 2025 · about 4:05 am local time
- Place
- Palmer, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, built 2016
- Registration
- N531AT · registry record · serial 14025
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that she was departing from an area of mountainous, snow-covered terrain with flat light conditions. She said that after takeoff, while in a high hover, she made a left pedal turn on departure to avoid obstacles and other parked helicopters. As the helicopter was turning, an advisory light illuminated on the instrument panel. She focused her attention inside on the light and when she looked back outside everything appeared white and she lost all visual reference with the terrain. Subsequently the helicopter impacted the snow-covered terrain and rolled over to the left. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom and fuselage. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of visual reference during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Workload management › (general) › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › High elevation › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Flat light › Effect on personnel
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusion › Situational awareness › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Training › Training with equipment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Personality/attitude › Confidence/reliance on equip › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 654 hours in all; 226 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 51 in the last 30 days; 560 as pilot in command; 210 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 20, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,595.5 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 7, 2025; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (piston); 1,595 hours total
- Operator: Elevate Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Palmer AK at 4:04 am
- Destination: PVT Palmer AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 13 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from PAAQ, 13 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAAQ 300353Z AUTO 14013G24KT 10SM OVC065 15/07 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP169 T01500072 TSNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on September 5, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot Interview | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative Photograph | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.