Piper PA-25-235 and Robinson R22 Beta mid-air collision near West Palm Beach, Florida, August 16, 2003
On August 16, 2003 at about 3:46 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-25-235 (N8785L) and Robinson R22 Beta (N341ZG), were involved in a mid-air collision near West Palm Beach, Florida (North Palm Beach County airport). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The poor judgment by the pilot-in-command of the airplane for his initiation of takeoff after the helicopter pilot had announced intention to perform a 180-degree autorotation to the runway, and the failure of both pilots to maintain visual lookout resulting in the in-flight collision.
The poor judgment by the pilot-in-command of the airplane for his initiation of takeoff after the helicopter pilot had announced intention to perform a 180-degree autorotation to the runway, and the failure of both pilots to maintain visual lookout resulting in the in-flight collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 2003 · about 3:46 pm local time
- Place
- West Palm Beach, Florida · North Palm Beach County · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-25-235 · all PA-25-235s on the register
- Registration
- N8785L · registry record · serial 25-5471
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Robinson R22 Beta · all R22 Betas on the register
- Registration
- N341ZG · no longer on the register · serial 2246
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-25-235 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The CFI and student in the Robinson helicopter had been flying for approximately 46 minutes and the CFI elected to finish the training session with her demonstration of a 180-degree autorotation. The pilot of the Piper airplane had been towing gliders earlier and after landing following another tow, the next glider was connected. An occupant of the helicopter announced on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF), "North County traffic helicopter one Zulu Gulf is turning left downwind at (500) feet for practice one eighty autorotation North County." The pilot of the Piper airplane reported seeing the helicopter just starting the downwind leg and made an announcement on the CTAF announcing his takeoff. The transmissions recorded on the CTAF did not include ground communications. Witnesses noted the helicopter on the downwind leg while the airplane began the takeoff roll. The helicopter was then observed to make a left turn and was noted by the pilot of the glider being towed to be slightly above and behind to his left and was paralleling the flight path of the airplane. The airplane and helicopter collided; following which, the airplane continued straight ahead for a short distance before descending nose and left-wing low into a marsh. The helicopter impacted the ground. Postaccident examination of both aircraft revealed the main rotor of the helicopter contacted the left main landing gear tire and section of leading edge of the left wing of the airplane. The airport did not have a memorandum of agreement with any operators at the airport pertaining to helicopter and fixed wing operations to runway 8L.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Robinson R22 Beta final · quoted from the NTSB record
The CFI and student in the Robinson helicopter had been flying for approximately 46 minutes and the CFI elected to finish the training session with her demonstration of a 180-degree autorotation. The pilot of the Piper airplane had been towing gliders earlier and after landing following another tow, the next glider was connected. An occupant of the helicopter announced on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF), "North County traffic helicopter one Zulu Gulf is turning left downwind at (500) feet for practice one eighty autorotation North County." The pilot of the Piper airplane reported seeing the helicopter just starting the downwind leg and made an announcement on the CTAF announcing his takeoff. The transmissions recorded on the CTAF did not include ground communications. Witnesses noted the helicopter on the downwind leg while the airplane began the takeoff roll. The helicopter was then observed to make a left turn and was noted by the pilot of the glider being towed to be slightly above and behind to his left and was paralleling the flight path of the airplane. The airplane and helicopter collided; following which, the airplane continued straight ahead for a short distance before descending nose and left-wing low into a marsh. The helicopter impacted the ground. Postaccident examination of both aircraft revealed the main rotor of the helicopter contacted the left main landing gear tire and section of leading edge of the left wing of the airplane. The airport did not have a memorandum of agreement with any operators at the airport pertaining to helicopter and fixed wing operations to runway 8L.
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 for the Piper PA-25-235 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 5,700 hours in all; 46 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 5,100 as pilot in command; 2,300 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 18, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,994 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 30, 2003; 13.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Barry Aviation Florida, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: F45 West Palm Beach FL at 3:46 pm
- Destination: F45 West Palm Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8L, 2,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KPBI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Robinson R22 Beta from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 366 hours in all; 366 in this make and model; 133 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 305 as pilot in command; 132 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 27, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 129 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 35 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 11, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,730.3 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 25, 2003; 21.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F45 West Palm Beach at 2:58 pm
- Destination: F45 West Palm Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8L, 2,000 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.