Robinson R44 accident near Tocumen, Pa, February 19, 2009
On February 19, 2009 at about 9:52 pm local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered HPAM3, was destroyed in an accident during enroute near Tocumen (Tocumen International airport). It was a business flight under non-U.S. private rules. 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Panama. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Direccion de Aeronautica Civil Apartados 7501 y 7615 Panama 5 http://www.aeronautica.gob.pa This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Panamanian Government.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 19, 2009 · about 9:52 pm local time
- Place
- Tocumen, Panama · Tocumen International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- HPAM3 · no longer on the register · serial 11442
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Panamanian-registered Robinson R44, was destroyed when it exploded in flight and impacted the parking lot at Tocumen International Airport (PTY), Tocumen, Panama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Panama. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Direccion de Aeronautica Civil Apartados 7501 y 7615 Panama 5 http://www.aeronautica.gob.pa This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Panamanian Government.
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
- Explosion (non-impact) during enroute defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
Pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
- Operator: Motta International
The flight
- Departed from: Miraflores
- Destination: Albrook
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.