What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On April 17, 2026, at approximately 1145, a Robinson R44 helicopter, impacted the ground approximately seven miles north of Crosbyton, Texas. The aircraft was being operated on an air tour flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the pilot sustained no injuries and the two passengers sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from a trailer on April 17, 2026, at approximately 1120.
As the FAA filed it
ON APRIL 17, 2026, AT APPROXIMATELY 1145, A ROBINSON R44 HELICOPTER, IMPACTED THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY SEVEN MILES NORTH OF CROSBYTON, TEXAS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED ON AN AIR TOUR FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, AND THE PILOT SUSTAINED NO INJURIES AND THE TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM A TRAILER ON APRIL 17, 2026, AT APPROXIMATELY 1120.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.