Robinson R44 II accident near Kenosha, Wisconsin, September 21, 2008
On September 21, 2008 at about 10:38 am local time, a Robinson R44 II (helicopter), registered N999ZD, was destroyed in an accident during enroute near Kenosha, Wisconsin (Kenosha Regional airport). It was a personal 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 pilots failure to maintain clearance from terrain resulting in an in-flight collision with a house. Contributing to the accident was the night instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and the pilot's lack of experience of flying in IMC.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 2008 · about 10:38 am local time
- Place
- Kenosha, Wisconsin · Kenosha Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 II · all R44 IIs on the register
- Registration
- N999ZD · no longer on the register · serial 11108
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-instrument-rated pilot departed from a casino heliport on a night cross country flight with a passenger. The helicopter impacted an occupied home and terrain about 1.5 miles south of the destination airport. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident. A witness said the helicopter sounded "really low" and the "engine sounded like it was at low RPMs." An on-scene investigation revealed the filament in the rotor's low rpm light bulb was stretched. No pre-impact helicopter or engine anomalies were detected. The pilot's logbook showed he had accumulated 329 hours of total flight time. The pilot had recorded 37.25 hours of night flight time.
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
- VFR encounter with IMC during enroute defining event
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Below VFR minima › Effect on operation
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on operation
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total instrument experience › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 329 hours in all; 298 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 31, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 318.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 2008; 25.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 2IG3 Whiting IN at 10:07 am
- Destination: ENW Kenosha WI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 0.8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 100 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 10:34 am from ENW, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.