Robinson R22 accident near Dryden, New York, October 16, 2008
On October 16, 2008 at about 5:41 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N943MH, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Dryden, New York. It was a personal 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 pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 16, 2008 · about 5:41 pm local time
- Place
- Dryden, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 Beta · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N943MH · no longer on the register · serial 2139
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed on the multi-leg cross-country trip in the accident helicopter two days after receiving his helicopter rating. His instructor cautioned him about the flight, and the pilot delayed his departure on the accident leg due to weather. Radar data and GPS track data depicted the helicopter in a shallow descent, on a westerly track, about 1,700 feet msl, approximately 1 mile prior to the accident site on a north-south ridgeline that reached 1,600 feet msl. Weather reported 6 miles from the accident site included an overcast ceiling at 1,000 feet (2,099 feet msl), and a pilot who departed the airport around the same time as the accident stated that the ceiling was at 500 feet (1,599 feet msl), "with ragged bases and light turbulence." AIRMET SIERRA for instrument meteorological conditions and mountain obscuration was valid for the accident location. Review of local weather revealed generally marginal VFR conditions were present behind the front, although higher terrain was occasionally obscured in clouds. Examination of the wreckage revealed no mechanical or pre-impact anomalies. The pilot had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer and underwent surgery and chemotherapy 15 months prior to the accident. Just prior to the accident, the pilot was diagnosed with metastatic disease in his lung and liver, findings associated with a very poor prognosis. It is unclear what role, if any, the pilot’s recurrent, metastatic esophageal cancer played in the accident.
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 (cruise) defining event
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute (cruise)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Below VFR minima › Decision related to condition
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Physical › Health/Fitness › Predisposing condition › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,080 hours in all; 58 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 14, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,735 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2008; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OIC Norwich NY at 5:15 pm
- Destination: ZZV Zaneville OH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from ITH, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.