Robinson R22 accident near Gladstone, Nebraska, May 20, 1985
On May 20, 1985 at about 3:00 am local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N8386B, was destroyed in an accident near Gladstone, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- May 20, 1985 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Gladstone, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N8386B · registry record · serial 0338
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT MADE A HARD OFF ARPT LANDING IN AN UNLIGHTED FARM FIELD ON A DARK NIGHT. THE ACFT'DROPPED IN' FROM ABOUT 50 FT AGL IN A VERTICAL DESCENT. AFTER GROUND CONTACT THE ACFT ROLLED OVER TO THE RIGHT. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE NOTED DURING THE INVESTIGATION.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 189 hours in all; 189 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 543 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 24, 1984; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LBY Fairbury NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 am from LNK, 50 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.