Aerospatiale AS-355 accident near Jonesville, Virginia, October 15, 1994
On October 15, 1994 at about 12:25 pm local time, a Aerospatiale AS-355 (helicopter), registered N5787A, was destroyed in an accident near Jonesville, Virginia. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 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 clearance from the power lines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 1994 · about 12:25 pm local time
- Place
- Jonesville, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS-355 · all AS-355s on the register
- Registration
- N5787A · registry record · serial 5069
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On October 15, 1994 about 0825 eastern daylight time, an Aerospatiale AS-355 helicopter, N5787A, operated by Ranger Helicopters, was destroyed after it struck power lines and collided with the ground during an aerial application flight in Jonesville, Virginia. Visual meteorological conditions existed and the commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was fatally injured. No additional information is available.
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
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: ROA Roanoke VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,600 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from TRI
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.