Robinson R22 accident near San Angelo, Texas, February 1, 1990
On February 1, 1990 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N25318, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Angelo, Texas (Mathis airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT BY NOT IDENTIFYING AND REMOVING THE TIE-DOWN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 1, 1990 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- San Angelo, Texas · Mathis · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N25318 · no longer on the register · serial 0602
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A LIFTOFF FROM A TRAILER TO FLIGHT TAXI THE HELICOPTER TO THE FLIGHT LINE. HE SAID THAT AS HE TRIED TO COME TO A HOVER, THE HELICOPTER WENT INTO A DYNAMIC ROLLOVER AND WAS THROWN TO THE GROUND. ONE OF THE SKIDS WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE TRAILER.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,500 hours in all; 4,250 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 8,250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,828 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 27, 1989; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,340 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SJT at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from SJT
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.