Robinson R22B accident near Temecula, California, April 5, 1991
On April 5, 1991 at about 5:37 pm local time, a Robinson R22B (helicopter), registered N80028, was destroyed in an accident near Temecula, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SEPARATION FROM OBSTACLES (POWER LINES).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 1991 · about 5:37 pm local time
- Place
- Temecula, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22B · all R22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N80028 · no longer on the register · serial 914
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON AN AUTHORIZED THREE SEGMENT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE HELICOPTER WAS OBSERVED FLYING SOUTHBOUND ALONG A HIGHWAY, 9 MILES SOUTH OF THE SECOND SEGMENT DESTINATION AIRPORT. AT 150 FEET A.G.L., THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE BOTTOM WIRE OF A THREE WIRE SET OF TRANSMISSION LINES THAT SPANNED THE HIGHWAY. THE HELICOPTER THEN FELL INTO THE SOUTHBOUND LANES OF THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS IMMEDIATELY STRUCK BY A MILITARY HUMVEE VEHICLE THAT WAS THE SECOND VEHICLE IN A CONVOY. BOTH THE HUMVEE AND HELICOPTER PARTS WERE INTERMIXED AND DESTROYED BY AN INTENSE POST CRASH FIRE WHEN THEY CAME TO REST AT THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE DRIVER OF THE HUMVEE WAS NOT INJURED.
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: 89 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 77 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,045 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 12, 1991; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-2BC (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Hiser Helicopters INC.
The flight
- Departed from: L66 Corona CA at 3:50 pm
- Destination: L66 Corona CA
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from RAL, 27 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.