Robinson R22A accident near North Bergen, New Jersey, May 5, 1994
On May 5, 1994 at about 4:50 pm local time, a Robinson R22A (helicopter), registered N503TH, was destroyed in an accident near North Bergen, New Jersey. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate visual lookout and adequate obstacle clearance, which resulted in an inflight collision with a static wire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 1994 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- North Bergen, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22A · all R22As on the register
- Registration
- N503TH · registry record · serial 481
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS HEADED EAST WHEN IT STRUCK AND SEVERED A STATIC WIRE, SUSPENDED OVER HIGH TENSION POWER LINES PERPENDICULAR TO THE FLIGHT COURSE. THE HELICOPTER CAUGHT FIRE, DESCENDED, AND STRUCK THE GROUND ON A HIGHWAY (INTERSTATE 495) AND CAME TO REST AGAINST THE CENTER DIVIDER. THE SEVERED WIRE FELL INTO A PARKING LOT AND A FIRE OCCURRED DAMAGING ABOUT 100 CARS. ABOUT 7 MINUTES EARLIER, THE PILOT REPORTED TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL AT THE DEPARTURE POINT, THAT HE WOULD PROCEED ON THE 'SIERRA' CHARTED VFR HELICOPTER ROUTE. THE WIRE STRIKE OCCURRED WHERE THE ROUTE PASSES OVER THE WIRE. THE WIRE WAS SUSPENDED BETWEEN TWO TOWERS, WHICH WERE RESPECTIVELY 172 AND 162 FEET HIGH. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT IN CONJUNCTION WITH FORMAL TRAINING FOR THE COMMERCIAL PILOT CERTIFICATE. THE PASSENGER WAS A CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND HE HAD ABOUT 967 HOURS OF TOTAL FLIGHT TIME. HE WAS NOT ACTING IN THE CAPACITY OF AN INSTRUCTOR ON THIS 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 172 hours in all; 113 in this make and model; 127 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 95 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,777 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 24, 1994; 91 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: TEB Teterboro NJ at 4:45 pm
- Destination: MIV Millville NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from TEB, 5 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.