Fatal Accident (2) – Robinson R44 Raven, N331ES, near Danville, VA, March 15, 2025
ASX Report | ||||
On Saturday, March 15, 2025, at approximately 15:03 local time, a Robinson R44 Raven helicopter, registered N331ES, crashed in a wooded area near Campview Road in the Tunstall community of Pittsylvania County, Virginia. The aircraft, owned and operated privately by the pilot, was destroyed on impact and post-crash fire. The sole occupant, 72-year-old Paul D. Jackson of Chase City, Virginia, was pronounced dead at the scene. There were no other passengers onboard, and no injuries or damage to ground structures were reported. According to witness statements and preliminary investigative details, the helicopter had recently concluded a private aerial tour. After dropping off his passengers, Jackson landed briefly at the Jones Market convenience store located on Mount Cross Road. Witnesses observed him exiting the store and returning to the aircraft. Bystanders noted the helicopter’s engine appeared to be running roughly at the time of departure. The aircraft then took off and traveled a short distance before disappearing from view. The crash occurred approximately 500 yards from the store, behind several residences in a wooded area off Campview Road. Eyewitness Tyler Jones, who saw the helicopter lift off, reported seeing the aircraft circling and then vanishing into low-lying fog in the area before hearing an explosion. He rushed toward the sound and encountered the wreckage engulfed in flames. Emergency responders from the Mount Cross, Tunstall, and Mount Hermon fire departments, along with the Pittsylvania County Public Safety Department, arrived shortly after the 911 call. The aircraft had impacted terrain and burst into flames, rendering it a total loss. Responders reported that the wreckage was not visible from the road, indicating a wooded impact site. The aircraft involved was a Robinson R44 Raven, a light, single-engine, four-seat helicopter commonly used in general aviation for private transport and aerial tours. Jackson, a highly experienced pilot and former president of the American Choppers Association, had accumulated numerous flight hours over his career. He was widely recognized for providing charity flights, community flyovers, medical transport for cancer patients, and other voluntary aerial services across Virginia and North Carolina. His helicopter was known to be a familiar presence at community events, including Lakefest and wedding ceremonies. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Both agencies were on scene by Sunday and scheduled recovery operations for the following day. Investigators are reviewing mechanical integrity, weather factors including localized fog, and potential human factors in an effort to determine the initiating causal chain. Preliminary indicators suggest the possibility of mechanical anomalies and environmental obscuration, but no official conclusions have been released. At the time of the accident, visibility in the area was reduced due to patchy fog, which may have contributed to spatial disorientation or impaired visual references during low-altitude maneuvering. The final descent path, proximity to obstacles, and flight dynamics are under forensic analysis. No flight plan had been filed, as this was a local VFR (Visual Flight Rules) operation. Data from the accident site, witness testimonies, and maintenance records will be critical in supporting the final investigative findings to establish the probable cause. | ||||
Accident Information | ||||
Approx. Accident Location | Aircraft Fatalities 1 | Ground Fatalities 0 | Injured 0 |  |
Aircraft Information | ||||
Aircraft Type | Operator | Registration | Serial Number | Manufacture date |
Relevent Flight Tracking | ||||
 |  |  |  |  |
Relevent Social Media | ||||
 |  |  |  |  |
References | ||||
Local News | World News | Image References |  | |
Miscellaneous | ||||
Accident Weather |  | Additional | Official Preliminary Report | Official Final Report |