Robinson R22 accident near Moundsville, West Virginia, December 30, 1984
On December 30, 1984 at about 2:00 am local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N9030B, was destroyed in an accident near Moundsville, West Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 30, 1984 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Moundsville, West Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N9030B · registry record · serial 0055
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER CRASHED APRX 1/2 MI FROM THE MARSHALL COUNTY ARPT WHILE ON A PERSONAL FLT. INVESTIGATON REVEALED THAT THE PLT, A DOCTOR WHO SPECIALIZED IN EMERGENCY ROOM PROCEDURES, COMMUTED BETWEEN HOSPITALS LOCATED IN THREE DIFFERENT CITIES. THE PLT HAD BEEN ON CALL OR EN ROUTE BETWEEN THE THREE HOSPITALS FOR 48 OUT OF THE 49 HRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. AFTER COMPLETION OF A SCHEDULED 12 HR SHIFT AT A WEST VIRGINIA CLINIC, THE PLT HAD TROUBLE STARTING THE ACFT DUE TO A PROBLEM HE IDENTIFIED AS A STICKING BENDIX GEAR ON THE STARTER. DURING THIS TIME THE PLT SAID HE WAS LOW ON FUEL & WAS GOING TO MARSHALL COUNTY FOR FUEL. THE PLT HAD CALLED THE MARSHALL COUNTY ARPT BY TELEPHONE TO ARRANGE FOR FUEL BEFORE DEPARTING. INVESTIGATIVE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE PLT'S ACTIVITIES, SCHEDULES & ASSOCIATED REFUELING ACTIVITIES PRIOR TO THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS AN ESTIMATED 2 GALS OF FUEL ON BOARD THE ACFT AT TAKEOFF.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,384 hours in all; 178 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 634 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1984; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HLG Wheeling WV at 1:50 am
- Destination: 74D Moundsville WV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 240° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from PKB, 47 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.