Robinson R22 accident near Minden, Louisiana, October 5, 1986
On October 5, 1986 at about 3:50 am local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N90455, was substantially damaged in an accident near Minden, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- October 5, 1986 · about 3:50 am local time
- Place
- Minden, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N90455 · no longer on the register · serial 0123
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT ENTERED IMC CONDITIONS WHILE IN CRUISE FLT ON A DARK NIGHT AT AN ALTITUDE OF 500 FT. HE THEN ENTERED A DESCENT TO REACH VMC. DURING THE DESCENT, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH A TREE AT APRX 75 TO 100 FEET AGL,THEN CRASHED TO THE GROUND.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 866 hours in all; 359 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 831 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 772 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 28, 1986; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RSN Ruston LA
- Destination: SHV Shreveport LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 am from SHV, 20 miles away
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.