Helio H295 accident near Artic Village, Alaska, August 20, 1994
On August 20, 1994 at about 4:00 am local time, a Helio H295, registered N6DB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Artic Village, Alaska. 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 PILOT SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE HIDDEN OBSTRUCTION (HOLE).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 1994 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Artic Village, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Helio H295 · all H295s on the register
- Registration
- N6DB · registry record · serial 1466
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS COMPLETING A CROSS-COUNTRY CFR PART 135 FLIGHT TO DELIVER FUEL AND SUPPLIES TO HUNTERS IN A REMOTE AREA. THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON A 700 FOOT LONG TUNDRA BENCH IN A TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED SHORT TAKEOFF AND LANDING (STOL) AIRPLANE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL STRUCK A MARMOT HOLE THAT WAS NOT VISIBLE FROM THE AIR. THE LEFT TIRE DEFLATED AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED. THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING AND TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY.
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, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,960 hours in all; 220 in this make and model; 216 in the last 90 days; 48 in the last 30 days; 2,771 as pilot in command; 256 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,380 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 8, 1994; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-G1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FYU Fort Yukon AK at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°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 N6DB 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.