Robinson R-44 Raven II accident near Darien, Pm, November 8, 2003
On November 8, 2003 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Robinson R-44 Raven II (helicopter), registered HP1481, was destroyed in an accident near Darien. It was flown under non-U.S. commercial rules. 1 person was killed, 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- November 8, 2003 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Darien, Saint Pierre and Miquelon · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed, 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-44 Raven II · all R-44 Raven IIs on the register
- Registration
- HP1481 · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Helipan Corporation
The flight
- Departed from: MPMG Albrook
- Destination: Darien
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 360° at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 30,000 ft; a few clouds at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 am from MPMG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 | 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.