Robinson R-22 accident near Hacienda Height, California, May 11, 1994
On May 11, 1994 at about 4:42 am local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N8047Y, was destroyed in an accident near Hacienda Height, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's selection of an en route cruise altitude which provided insufficient obstruction clearance, and his inadequate visual lookout. Factors in the night time accident were the reduced visibility as a result of the fog and haze.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 1994 · about 4:42 am local time
- Place
- Hacienda Height, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N8047Y · no longer on the register · serial 2408
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE UPPER STATIC CABLE OF POWER TRANSMISSION LINES WHILE ON A NIGHT CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE HELICOPTER FLYING LOW FOR SEVERAL MILES BEFORE THE COLLISION. AFTER THE COLLISION, THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE INDICATED THE CENTER POST OF THE CANOPY STRUCK THE CABLE FIRST. THE VISIBILITY WAS REPORTED AS 6 STATUTE MILES WITH HAZE AND FOG. THE WIRES ARE DEPICTED ON THE HELICOPTER ROUTE CHART AND THE VFR TERMINAL AREA CHART. THE CABLE SUPPORT TOWERS WERE LIGHTED ON THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-ACCIDENT MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE HELICOPTER. THREE AUTOMOBILES WERE DAMAGED WHEN THE HELICOPTER CRASHED. ONE AUTOMOBILE STOPPED IN THE WESTBOUND LANES SHORT OF CRASHED HELICOPTER AND ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE STRUCK THE REAR OF THE STOPPED VEHICLE. AN AUTOMOBILE IN THE EASTBOUND LANES STRUCK THE HELICOPTER'S MAST AND WAS DAMAGED. ALL REPORTED INJURIES ON THE GROUND WERE A RESULT OF AUTOMOBILES COLLIDING IN THE WESTBOUND LANES.
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: 122 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 309 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 9, 1994; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Skyline Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: BUR Burbank CA at 4:19 am
- Destination: CNO Chino CA
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:46 am from ONT, 16 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.
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.