No fatalities

ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II accident at Palmer, AK, 18 Aug 2024

Palmer, AK, United States

On August 18, 2024, a ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II operated by Alpha Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Palmer, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to follow the operator’s procedure manual and attempted to land at a remote landing zone in high wind conditions. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to follow the operator’s procedure manual and attempted to land at a remote landing zone in high wind conditions. Contributing factor was the pilot’s decision to not conduct a fly over of the landing site to determine wind condition which resulted in a loss of control during landing.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Effect on operationPilotCapability exceededCompany/organization policy

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 18 Aug 2024 ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II accident near Palmer, AK?

The pilot's failure to follow the operator’s procedure manual and attempted to land at a remote landing zone in high wind conditions. Contributing factor was the pilot’s decision to not conduct a fly over of the landing site to determine wind condition which resulted in a loss of control during landing.

Were there any fatalities in the 18 Aug 2024 ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 18 Aug 2024 involved a ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II, operated by Alpha Aviation, at Palmer, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to follow the operator’s procedure manual and attempted to land at a remote landing zone in high wind conditions. Contributing factor was the pilot’s decision to not conduct a fly over of the landing site to determine wind condition which resulted in a loss of control during landing.