Helio H-395 accident near Gillette, Wyoming, October 8, 1982
On October 8, 1982, a Helio H-395, registered N3129R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gillette, Wyoming (Gillette Campbell County airport). It was a personal 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
- October 8, 1982
- Place
- Gillette, Wyoming · Gillette Campbell County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Helio H-395 · all H-395s on the register
- Registration
- N3129R · no longer on the register · serial 510
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LANDING ROLL-OUT ON RUNWAY 15, THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED TO THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT GEAR FAILED. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS FOLLOWING A TWIN CESSNA THAT WAS ABOUT 1/4 MILE AHEAD, AND WHEN HE RAISED THE FLAPS FROM FULL DOWN TO 3/4 DOWN, THE PLANE SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT. HE THOUGHT HE HAD ENCOUNTERED "PROP WASH" OR VORTICES FROM THE TWIN CESSNA THAT HAD MADE A TOUCH-AND-GO. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS ADVISED BY THE TOWER CONTROLLER THAT THE WINDS WERE FROM 210 DEG AT 12 KTS AND GUSTING. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE GEAR HAD FAILED FROM OVERLOAD. ACCORDING TO THE 1848 WEATHER REPORT, THE WIND WAS FROM 290 DEG AT 9 GUSTING 22 KTS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,385 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-G1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C Casper WY at 6:00 pm
- Destination: C Gillette WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 210° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 129°F (54°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
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.