No fatalities

ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66 accident at Delta, MO, 5 Oct 2021

Delta, MO, United States

On October 5, 2021, a ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66 operated by THOMPSON FLYING SERVICE LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Delta, MO. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s inadequate inflight planning and his failure to see and avoid a wire which resulted in contact with the wire and subsequent ground impact. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 16 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate inflight planning and his failure to see and avoid a wire which resulted in contact with the wire and subsequent ground impact.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

PilotEffect on equipmentDamaged/degraded

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 5 Oct 2021 ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66 accident near Delta, MO?

The pilot’s inadequate inflight planning and his failure to see and avoid a wire which resulted in contact with the wire and subsequent ground impact.

Were there any fatalities in the 5 Oct 2021 ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 5 Oct 2021 involved a ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66, operated by THOMPSON FLYING SERVICE LLC, at Delta, MO.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot’s inadequate inflight planning and his failure to see and avoid a wire which resulted in contact with the wire and subsequent ground impact.