Robinson R22 accident near Myersville, Maryland, February 12, 1987
On February 12, 1987 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N9073Y, was destroyed in an accident near Myersville, Maryland (Washington County Airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- February 12, 1987 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Myersville, Maryland · Washington County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N9073Y · no longer on the register · serial 0230
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED COMMERCIAL PILOT DEPARTED HGR IN A ROBINSON HELICOPTER THAT WAS NOT EQUIPPED TO FLY IN INSTRUMENT CONDITIONS. THE PILOT HAD NOT LOGGED ANY INSTRUMENT TIME AND ELECTED TO DEPART IN IFR CONDITIONS UNDER A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE. ATC TRANSCRIPTS OF THE HGR TOWER REVEALED THAT THE PILOT INTENDED TO FLY ALONG INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS LEADING BACK TO THE WASHINGTON AREA. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF INTERSTATE 70 AT A POINT WHERE IT TURNED SOUTH TO GO OVER A RIDGELINE. A WEATHER STUDY INDICATED THAT MOUNTAIN RIDGES IN THE AREA WOULD HAVE BEEN OBSCURED BY FOG AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN LIGHT AND POSSIBLY MODERATE RIME ICING AT LOW ALTITUDES PARTICULARLY ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN RIDGES.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 190 hours in all; 190 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 120 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,323 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 21, 1986; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: HGR Hagerstown MD at 7:16 pm
- Destination: W32 Clinton MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from HGR, 12 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N9073Y the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.