Helio H-250 accident near Round Mountain, California, April 12, 1995
On April 12, 1995 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Helio H-250, registered N5461E, was destroyed in an accident near Round Mountain, California (Benton Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's poor preflight planning/preparation and in-flight decision by continuing VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot's delay in returning to the departure airport, the low clouds, and low visibility were factors in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 1995 · about 7:20 pm local time · cases in 1995
- Place
- Round Mountain, California · Benton Airpark · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Helio H-250 · all H-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5461E · registry record · serial 2518
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A GROUND WITNESS LOCATED 15 MILES FROM THE ACCIDENT REPORTED HEARING AN AIRPLANE AT ABOUT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. HE REPORTED THAT CLOUDS OBSCURED THE MOUNTAIN PEAKS AND THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE AIRPLANE. THE GROUND WITNESS ALSO SAID THAT RAIN, SLEET, SNOW FLURRIES, AND HIGH WINDS EXISTED, AND THE GROUND VISIBILITY WAS LESS THAN 200 FEET. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE IN A NEAR LEVEL FLIGHT ATTITUDE. A WEATHER BRIEFING WAS NOT OBTAINED BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.
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: 328 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,665 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 1994; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O85 Redding CA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: COE Coeur D'Alene ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5461E on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Helio H-250 11 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Helio 120 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 7 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Benton Field · nearest airport
- Coeur D'Alene Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,094 in the last ten years
- California 28,286 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX95FA161.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.