Helio U-10D accident near Wellsville, Kansas, September 30, 1995
On September 30, 1995 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Helio U-10D, registered N2706J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wellsville, Kansas (Pollock 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 pilot's improper weather evaluation. A factor was the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 1995 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Wellsville, Kansas · Pollock Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Helio U-10D
- Registration
- N2706J · no longer on the register · serial 66-14361
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF TO THE WEST WITH 900 FEET OF USABLE RUNWAY, WITH WINDS REPORTED AT 270 AT 15 KNOTS GUSTS TO 25 KNOTS. THE AIRPLANE DID NOT LIFT OFF AND IMPACTED A ROW OF 15 FOOT TALL SPRUCE TREES AT THE END OF THE TURF RUNWAY. A WEATHER REPORTING STATION, OLATHE, JOHNSON COUNTY AIRPORT, STATED WINDS OF 15 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 25 KNOTS OUT OF THE WEST, 30 MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT. AN FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED STRONG, GUSTY, SHIFTING WINDS THROUGHOUT THE AREA ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT SAID HE 'SUSPECTED WINDSHEAR.'
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,128 hours in all; 130 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 1,013 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,893 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 14, 1995; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-G1D6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4KS1 at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 900 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from IXD, 12 miles away
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.
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.