Robinson R44 II accident near Ridgedale, Missouri, August 29, 2008
On August 29, 2008 at about 9:13 pm local time, a Robinson R44 II (helicopter), registered N41411, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Ridgedale, Missouri (Branson Airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An in-flight loss of control for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 2008 · about 9:13 pm local time
- Place
- Ridgedale, Missouri · Branson Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 II · all R44 IIs on the register
- Registration
- N41411 · registry record · serial 12429
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was on a new aircraft delivery flight from California to the delivery destination in Illinois. The helicopter was being flown by two pilots and was en route to an intermediate stop to drop off the second pilot. Several witnesses were watching the helicopter in normal cruise flight approximately 700 to 1,000 feet above ground level when it suddenly nosed straight down in a 60-degree dive and impacted trees and terrain. The helicopter was destroyed by impact forces and the postimpact fire. The flight instructor had completed the Robinson safety course including an evaluation flight in a Robinson 44 helicopter. The second pilot had completed the Robinson safety course including an evaluation flight in a Robinson 22 helicopter. At the time of the accident the helicopter had accumulated an estimated 17 hours of total time. An on-scene examination of the helicopter and engine showed no pre-crash anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control in flight during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,565 hours in all; 393 in the last 90 days; 125 in the last 30 days; 350 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 23, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 137 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 20, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 18, 2008; 13 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
- Operator: Central Illinois Air Corp
The flight
- Departed from: SNL Shawnee OK at 7:20 pm
- Destination: UNO West Plains MO
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KHRO, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.