Robinson R44 II accident near Jackson, Wyoming, September 9, 2005
On September 9, 2005 at about 5:25 pm local time, a Robinson R44 II (helicopter), registered N944U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jackson, Wyoming. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during initial takeoff climb resulting in an uncontrolled descent and impact with terrain. A contributing factor was the pilot's encounter in settling with power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 2005 · about 5:25 pm local time
- Place
- Jackson, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 II · all R44 IIs on the register
- Registration
- N944U · no longer on the register · serial 10766
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after departure, the pilot noticed the rotor RPM had begun to diminish, and the helicopter settled towards terrain. The pilot attempted to apply additional throttle; however, the throttle was already in the full open position. The pilot then lowered the collective and reduced the throttle. The helicopter continued to settle toward terrain, and the pilot applied full throttle. The helicopter contacted the ground, rotated 180 degrees, and came to rest upright.
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, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 736 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 129 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Upper Limit Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: JAC Jackson WY
- Destination: SLC Salt Lake City UT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N944U 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.