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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 2005 · about 3:45 pm local time · cases in 2005
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Gold King Airport · cases near this 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
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N6465V on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Helio H-295 54 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Helio 120 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-GIDG 246 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Shawn Field · nearest airport
- Fairbanks International · departed from
- Oooguruk Island Heliport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 823 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,143 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N6465V 2 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC05LA045.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.