Robinson R-22B accident near Garrisonville, Virginia, March 4, 1991
On March 4, 1991, a Robinson R-22B (helicopter), registered N2632Z, was destroyed in an accident near Garrisonville, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE WITH THE TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 4, 1991
- Place
- Garrisonville, Virginia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22B · all R-22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2632Z · no longer on the register · serial 738
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS EN ROUTE VFR AT NIGHT WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED POOR VISIBILITY CONDITIONS. THE PLT STATED THAT HE DECIDED TO REVERSE COURSE AND DURING THE TURN HE FLEW INTO CLOUDS. ACCORDING TO THE PLT HE DESCENDED IN ATTEMPT TO GET BELOW THE CLOUDS AND STRUCK TREES.
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
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 1,300 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 1,288 as pilot in command; 600 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,970 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 23, 1991; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Stephen Phillips Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: W332 Clinton MD at 11:45 pm
- Destination: 8W8 Hartwood VA
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 140° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft; scat at 500 ft
- Temperature: 135°F (57°C), dew point 133°F (56°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.