Helio H 250 accident near Seward, Alaska, June 21, 2019
On June 21, 2019 at about 11:46 pm local time, a 1967 Helio H 250, registered N6314V, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Seward, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during takeoff, which resulted in an in-flight collision, a loss of control, and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 2019 · about 11:46 pm local time
- Place
- Seward, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Helio H 250, built 1967 · all H 250s on the register
- Registration
- N6314V · no longer on the register · serial 2534
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot was asked to pick up two passengers, and their equipment, from a remote unimproved, grass-covered airstrip that was surrounded by trees at the southern end of the site. After failing to return with the passengers, a friend of the pilot initiated an aerial search and found the airplane at the south end of the airstrip on the shoreline of a small river. The airplane was observed in a near vertical position and had largely been consumed by a postcrash fire. The initial impact point was marked by a fresh tree break in an area of 85 ft. tall trees at the departure end of the site. The airplane's left wing had a large elliptical-shaped impact area with fresh pieces of the broken tree wedged inside. First responders found some of the passenger's equipment/luggage on the side of the accident airstrip, which appeared to have been intentionally left. The exact takeoff weight of the airplane is unknown due to the postcrash fire. During an NTSB postaccident examination of the airplane and engine, no mechanical malfunction or anomalies were found. Given the lack of any mechanical deficiencies with the airplane, the grass-covered airstrip, and a stand of tall trees at the departure end of the site, it is likely the airplane collided with a tall tree during initial climb out, and subsequently the pilot lost control of the airplane.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,580 hours in all; 248 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,708.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2018
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Seward AK
- Destination: SWD Seward AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from PAWD, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on March 31, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cockpit Displays - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 2 | H-250 Performance | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Logbooks Excerpts | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Accident Pictures | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.
