Helio H-295 accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, February 28, 2005
On February 28, 2005 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Helio H-295, registered N6465V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska (Gold King Airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's delay in performing a go-around, and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 2005 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Gold King Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Helio H-295 · all H-295s on the register
- Registration
- N6465V · registry record · serial 1417
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot was conducting an on-demand cargo flight to a remote airstrip. On final approach to land, he noticed he was too low, and initiated a go around, but the airplane continued to descend and collided with trees at the approach end of the runway. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and fuselage.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 19,700 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 19,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,246 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 23, 2004; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-GIDG (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FAI Fairbanks AK at 3:30 pm
- Destination: AK32 Gold King AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 060, 2,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N6465V the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.