Robinson R22 BETA accident near Deming, New Mexico, September 30, 1993
On September 30, 1993 at about 8:10 pm local time, a Robinson R22 BETA (helicopter), registered N2360B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Deming, New Mexico (Deming Municipal airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION. FACTORS WERE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND THE OVER GROSS WEIGHT CONDITION OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 1993 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Deming, New Mexico · Deming Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 BETA · all R22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N2360B · registry record · serial 2335
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT FOR TAKEOFF WAS 1,370 POUNDS. TAKEOFF WEIGHT FOR THIS FLIGHT WAS 1,457.3 POUNDS. MANUFACTURER PERFORMANCE DATA INDICATED A MAXIMUM PRESSURE ALTITUDE OF 5,800 FEET FOR AN IN GROUND EFFECT HOVER AT MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT. PRESSURE ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF TAKEOFF WAS 6,600 FEET. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE PILOT HAD CALCULATED WEIGHT AND BALANCE OR DETERMINED PRESSURE ALTITUDE DURING THE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,405 hours in all; 610 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,207 as pilot in command; 537 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 28 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 21, 1993; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ELP El Paso TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; not recorded at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from DMN, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N2360B the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.