Robinson R22 accident near Sisseton, South Dakota, January 15, 1983
On January 15, 1983 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N9079B, was destroyed in an accident near Sisseton, South Dakota (Sisseton airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 15, 1983 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sisseton, South Dakota · Sisseton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N9079B · no longer on the register · serial 0294
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER CRASHED IN AN OPEN FIELD SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF IN ADVERSE WEATHER. THE PILOT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED ANDHAD RECEIVED WEATHER BRIEFINGS BY TELEPHONE FROM A FLIGHT SERVICE STATION. THE FORECAST WAS NOT FAVORABLE, BUT THE PILOTSTATED 'WELL I THINK I CAN GET OUT FROM UNDERNEATH IT WITH A HELICOPTER, NO PROBLEM.' THE PILOT TOOK OFF WHILE SEVERAL WITNESSES WATCHED. ONE WITNESS OBSERVED HIM WIPE CONDENSATION OFF THE INSIDE OF THE PLEXIGLASS TWICE PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.AFTER TAKEOFF,WHICH THE AIRPORT MANAGER THOUGHT WOULD BE POSTPONED FOR WEATHER, THE HELICOPTER DISAPPEARED IN THE FOG ATA DISTANCE OF ABOUT ONE HALF MILE AND ALTITUDE OF 200 FT. THE WITNESSES HEARD THE AIRCRAFT NOISE CHANGE FROM NORTHWEST TO NORTHEAST WHICH PUZZLED THEM. NO ONE HEARD THE SOUNDS OF THE ACFT IMPACT. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND ABOUT ONE AND ONE- HALF MILES NORTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT BY A FARMER, APRX TWO HOURS AFTER DEPARTURE.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 117 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 34 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 295 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 12, 1983; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: GFK Grand Forks ND
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 34, 2,900 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: overcast at 100 ft; not recorded at 100 ft
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.