Pearce Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lower Lake, California 95422
Sunday, October 30, 1988 8:54 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A LOCAL SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN IN AN OPEN FIELD APRX 3 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. IT WAS REPORTED TO HAVE CONTACTED THE GROUND AT CONSIDERABLE DOWNWARD SPEED WITH HIGH ROTOR RPM. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE OPERATOR ESTIMATED THERE WAS A 600 TO 700 FT OVERCAST WITH 2 TO 3 MILES VISIBILITY AND FOG. ALSO, HE REPORTED THE STUDENT HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO REMAIN IN THE PATTERN TO PRACTICE LANDINGS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/30/1988
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 854
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City LOWER LAKE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95422
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PEARCE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 209
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 3
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 1385
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1706
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 30 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1055
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37885
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:14PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Unknown
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2627K
NTSB Number LAX89LA028
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ROBINSON
Aircraft Model R22
Aircraft Series Identifier R22
Aircraft Serial Number 748
Certified Max Gross Weight 1370
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Oct 23 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 38
Airframe Hours 634
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name OSAKA AVIATION CO, LTD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2-12 YAOH AIRPORT, YAOH-SHI
Aircraft Owner City OSAKA JAPAN 581
Aircraft Owner State OF
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RESORT AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1297
Operator City CLEAR LAKE
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95422
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 209
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 756
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 2485
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --