Helio 250 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, July 6, 1985
On July 6, 1985 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Helio 250, registered N5460E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (O'Malley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 1985 · about 7:15 pm local time · cases in 1985
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · O'Malley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Helio 250
- Registration
- N5460E · no longer on the register · serial 2517
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE TOOK OFF DOWNWIND WITH A HEAVILY LOADED ACFT. HE ESTIMATED THE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTH AT 4 GUSTING TO 6 KTS. HE STATED THAT AFTER CLIMBING ABOUT 100 FT, THE ACFT BEGAN TO MUSH AS HE BEGAN RETRACTING THE FLAPS. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT COLLIDED WITH TREES ABOUT 1 MI SOUTH OF THE ARPT.
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
- Flight time: 2,015 hours in all; 1,811 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,905 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 10, 1985; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Stephane Lake AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N5460E 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
- N5460E: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Helio 120 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A 5,245 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 825 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N5460E 1 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/ANC85LA119.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.