ANC05LA045

The airline transport pilot was conducting an on-demand cargo flight to a remote airstrip. On final approach to land, he noticed he was too low, and initiated a go around, but the airplane continued to descend and collided with trees at the approach end of the runway. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and fuselage.

On February 28, 2005, about 1145 Alaska standard time, a Helio H-295 airplane, N6465V, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with trees following a go-around at the Gold King Strip, 40 miles southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Wright Air Service of Fairbanks, as a visual flight rules (VFR) cargo flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The solo airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight departed the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, about 1115.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on February 28, the pilot stated he was on short final, and determined he was too low. He said he initiated a go-around, but in the process of climbing and getting the flaps up, the airplane flew into the trees. He said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. He said the airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and fuselage when it impacted the trees.