Helio H-295 accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, July 23, 1983
On July 23, 1983 at about 3:50 am local time, a Helio H-295, registered N6481V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska (Bonnefield Creek). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 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 23, 1983 · about 3:50 am local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Bonnefield Creek · 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
- N6481V · no longer on the register · serial 1435
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LEFT BRAKE FAILED & THE ACFT RAN OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY. REPORTEDLY, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT WENT OFF THE GRAVEL RWY AT OR NEAR THE DEPARTURE END. NO MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY WAS FOUND.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,900 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 3,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,986 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 6, 1982; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FAI Fairbanks AK at 10:20 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 36, 1,100 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 30°F (-1°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 N6481V 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.