Robinson R-44 accident near Istok, Ru, July 9, 2011
On July 9, 2011 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Robinson R-44 (helicopter), registered RA04304, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Istok. It was a positioning flight under non-U.S. private rules. 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
- July 9, 2011 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Istok, Russia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-44 · all R-44s on the register
- Registration
- RA04304 · no longer on the register · serial 1658
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On July 9, 2011, at 1900 universal coordinated time, a Robinson R-44, Russian registration RA-04304, registered to and operated by a private owner, collided with the Yenisei River, near Istok, Krasnoyarsk Region, Russia, during a repositioning flight at night. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot is missing and presumed fatally injured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from a landing strip near Severnaya, Krasnoyarsk Region, Russia, at an undetermined time. The accident is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Russia. This report is for informational purposes and contains only information released by the Government of Russia. Additional information may be obtained from: Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) IIC - Mr. Alexander Paramonov 22/2/1 Bolshaya Ordynka Str. Moscow 119017, Russia Tel: +7 (495) 953-57-42 Fax: +7(495) 953-57-42 E-mail: paramonov@mail.ru
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 maneuvering defining event
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during maneuvering
Pilot
- Certificate: foreign licence
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Severnaya at 7:00 pm
- Destination: Krasnoyarsk Reg
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.