Robinson R-22 BETA accident near Lake City, Florida, August 30, 1991
On August 30, 1991 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 BETA (helicopter), registered N4022D, was destroyed in an accident near Lake City, Florida. It was a public-use flight under public-use (government) rules. 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A VISUAL LOOKOUT DUE TO HIS DIVERTED ATTENTION TO OBSERVE AND ENTER THE LOCATION OF AN ILLEGAL MARIJUANA PATCH INTO THE ON BOARD LORAN UNIT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 1991 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Lake City, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 BETA · all R-22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N4022D · registry record · serial 1431
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FLYING AN ADMINISTRATIVE FLIGHT IN THE HELICOPTER STRUCK AN ANTENNA GUY WIRE AND CRASHED. EXAMINATION OF THE ON BOARD LORAN REVEALED RECENTLY ENTERED COORDINATES NEAR THE ACCIDENT SCENE THAT WHEN INVESTIGATED REVEALED AN ILLEGAL MARIJUANA FIELD TO BE PRESENT. INTERVIEWS WITH FELLOW WORKERS REVEALED THAT THE PILOT ROUTINELY CONDUCTED SEARCH MISSIONS EVEN WHILE ON AN ADMINISTRATIVE FLIGHT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,601 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 792 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 1991; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: State Of Florida
The flight
- Destination: TLH Tallahassee FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from GNV, 23 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.