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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 1995 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Round Mountain, California · Benton Airpark · 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 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX95FA161.