Beech B19 and Robinson R-22 BETA mid-air collision near Taylor, Missouri, June 20, 1999
On June 20, 1999 at about 10:45 am local time, 2 aircraft, Beech B19 (N282L) and Robinson R-22 BETA (N2341J), were involved in a mid-air collision near Taylor, Missouri (Haerr Field). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the airplane pilot's and the helicopter pilot's failure to maintain visual clearance from each other while in the traffic pattern.
the airplane pilot's and the helicopter pilot's failure to maintain visual clearance from each other while in the traffic pattern.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 1999 · about 10:45 am local time
- Place
- Taylor, Missouri · Haerr Field · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Beech B19 · all B19s on the register
- Registration
- N282L · registry record · serial MB-700
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Robinson R-22 BETA · all R-22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N2341J · no longer on the register · serial 2187
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Beech B19 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane pilot said that he was in the traffic pattern, turning from base leg to final, when he heard a noise and felt something. The pilot said that he looked to his left and saw a small helicopter flying below him at his 10 o'clock position. He then noticed that the airplane's left aileron was damaged. The pilot said that his airplane and the helicopter appeared to both be under control. The helicopter pilot said that he was coming around for an approach pattern. He had heard the pilot of the airplane over the radio and thought that the airplane was already on the ground. The helicopter pilot said that when he was on final for the runway he felt a bump in the airframe. Thinking he had struck a bird, the pilot rapidly descended and landed. The helicopter pilot said that he never saw the airplane. Both the airplane and the helicopter landed without further incident. Examinations of the airplane and the helicopter revealed no anomalies to either aircraft.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Robinson R-22 BETA final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane pilot said that he was in the traffic pattern, turning from base leg to final, when he heard a noise and felt something. The pilot said that he looked to his left and saw a small helicopter flying below him at his 10 o'clock position. He then noticed that the airplane's left aileron was damaged. The pilot said that his airplane and the helicopter appeared to both be under control. The helicopter pilot said that he was coming around for an approach pattern. He had heard the pilot of the airplane over the radio and thought that the airplane was already on the ground. The helicopter pilot said that when he was on final for the runway he felt a bump in the airframe. Thinking he had struck a bird, the pilot rapidly descended and landed. The helicopter pilot said that he never saw the airplane. Both the airplane and the helicopter landed without further incident. Examinations of the airplane and the helicopter revealed no anomalies to either aircraft.
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 for the Beech B19 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 208 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 16, 1998
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPI Springfield IL at 2:45 pm
- Destination: K04
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 2,800 ft by 110 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from UIN, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Robinson R-22 BETA from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 74 hours in all; 67 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 37 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,123 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 20, 1999; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Quincy IL at 2:00 pm
- Destination: K04
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 2,800 ft by 110 ft
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.