Robinson R22 HP accident near Lk Buena Vista, Florida, June 14, 1986
On June 14, 1986 at about 10:35 pm local time, a Robinson R22 HP (helicopter), registered N8400C, was destroyed in an accident near Lk Buena Vista, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- June 14, 1986 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Lk Buena Vista, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 HP · all R22 HPs on the register
- Registration
- N8400C · no longer on the register · serial 0346
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
MOTORISTS OBSD THE HELICOPTER FLYING LOW OVR & ALONG AN INTERSTATE HIWAY. IN THE VICINITY OF A HIWAY REST AREA, THE HELICOPTER MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIWAY, THEN FLEW BACK OVR THE MEDIAN. TWO WITNESSES SAID IT CAME TO A HOVER, THEN STARTED TO CONTINUE ALONG THE ROADWAY. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT HIT A PWR LINE THAT CROSSED OVR THE HIWAY & CRASHED ONTO THE MEDIAN AFTER TRAVELING ANOTHER 426 FT. AFTER IMPACTING THE MEDIAN, THE HELICOPTER TRAVELED ANOTHER 57 FT BEFORE COMING TO REST. THE ACDNT OCCURRED IN THE VICINITY OF WHERE THE PLT'S WIFE & A FRIEND OF THE PASSENGER WERE TRAVELING BY AUTO. THE PLT & HIS WIFE DENIED KNOWING EACH OTHER WERE IN THE VICINITY; ALTHO, BOTH WERE RETURNING FROM THE SAME RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY. THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT THE REST AREA DUE TO BAD WX. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT DRG THE ACDNT, THE ROTOR OF THE HELICOPTER HIT THE PWR LINE ABOUT 28 FT AGL. A WITNESS SAID THAT LIGHT RAIN WAS FALLING WHEN THE ACDNT OCCURRED.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,460 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 190 in the last 90 days; 55 in the last 30 days; 3,405 as pilot in command; 300 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,039 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 3, 1986; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lake Wales FL at 10:00 pm
- Destination: ORL Orlando FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from MCO, 9 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.