Helio H395 accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, July 20, 1983
On July 20, 1983 at about 2:35 am local time, a Helio H395, registered N4156D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 1983 · about 2:35 am local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Helio H395 · all H395s on the register
- Registration
- N4156D · no longer on the register · serial 508
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
TAKEOFF WAS FROM A DIRT DRIVEWAY WHICH HAD A USABLE LENGTH 0F 330 FT BEFORE IT CURVED NORTH. BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE PLT HADBENT SEVERAL SMALL TREES BACK AWAY FROM THE DRIVEWAY & TIED THEM DOWN SO THEY WOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH THE TAKEOFF. THERE ARE NUMEROUS TREES SURROUNDING THE AREA, WITH AN OPENING AT THE DEPARTURE END OF AOUT 40 FT WIDE. THE WINGSPAN OF THE ACFT WAS 38 FT 6 INCHES. AS THE PLT TRIED TO FLY THRUUGH THE OPENING, THE LEFT WING CONTACTED A TALL TREE & THE LEADING EDGE SLAT SEPARATED. THE ACFT ROLLED & CRASHED INVERTED ONTO A GUARD RAIL OF AN ADJACENT HIGHWAY. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMOBILE RESTRAINT SYSTEM. THE SHOULDER HARNESS ATTACHING BRACKET WAS LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE BENCHSEAT. THE SHOULDER HARNESS STRAP CAME LOOSE FROM THAT ATTACHING POINT DURING THE CRASH SEQUENCE. THE ACFT HAD BEEN REPORTEDLY REBUILT BY THE PLT WHO IS NOT AN A&P. THERE WERE RIVETS MISSING IN THE VERTICAL STABILIZER, & WHERE HOLES DIDN'T MATCH UP, NEW ONES WERE DRILLED & SCREWED TOGETHER.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-G1D6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from FAI, 5 miles away
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 N4156D 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.