Robinson R22 accident near Lower Lake, California, October 30, 1988
On October 30, 1988 at about 4:54 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N2627K, was destroyed in an accident near Lower Lake, California (Pearce airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
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 30, 1988 · about 4:54 pm local time
- Place
- Lower Lake, California · Pearce · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N2627K · no longer on the register · serial 748
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN IN AN OPEN FIELD APRX 3 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. IT WAS REPORTED TO HAVE CONTACTED THE GROUND AT CONSIDERABLE DOWNWARD SPEED WITH HIGH ROTOR RPM. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE OPERATOR ESTIMATED THERE WAS A 600 TO 700 FT OVERCAST WITH 2 TO 3 MILES VISIBILITY AND FOG. ALSO, HE REPORTED THE STUDENT HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO REMAIN IN THE PATTERN TO PRACTICE LANDINGS.
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: student
- Flight time: 54 hours in all; 54 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 634 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 23, 1988; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Resort Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 209 at 3:56 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,485 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.