Helio H-295 accident near Key West, Florida, March 3, 1996
On March 3, 1996 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Helio H-295, registered N68883, was substantially damaged in an accident near Key West, Florida (Keywest International 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 pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during lift-off, which resulted in the right wingtip contacting the runway. The gusty crosswind was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 3, 1996 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Key West, Florida · Keywest International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Helio H-295 · all H-295s on the register
- Registration
- N68883 · registry record · serial 1477
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was taking off on runway 9. He stated that after the airplane became airborne, a strong gust of wind from the left caused it to roll to the right. The right wing tip contacted the runway followed by the left wing tip. The airplane then pivoted on the left wing tip, and the pilot reduced the throttle after rolling to a wings level attitude. The airplane came to rest upright on a taxiway. A weather observation taken about 11 minutes after the accident indicated the wind was from 030 degrees at 13 knots with gust to 21 knots.
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: 721 hours in all; 641 in this make and model; 10 in the last 30 days; 721 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,213 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 12, 1995; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-G1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EYW at 2:45 pm
- Destination: LEE Leesburg FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 9, 4,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 13 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,500 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from EYW
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.