Helicopter Crash in Alaska’s North Slope Claims Lives of Scientists and Pilot
Four lives were tragically lost in a helicopter crash on Alaska’s North Slope, according to a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board. The incident occurred in July, when a Bell 206L-4 helicopter carrying three state scientists and a pilot crashed into Lake Itinik.
The helicopter was en route to conduct field work at remote locations on the North Slope. However, as it passed over the southeastern shoreline of Lake Itinik, it abruptly stopped sending flight-status data to the real-time tracking system. The wreckage of the fragmented and partially submerged helicopter was later discovered in the lake.
Despite clear conditions at the time of the crash, the report offers no insight into the cause of the incident. Further investigation will be necessary before a final report can determine the accident’s root cause.
The last recorded data transmission indicated that the helicopter was flying northwest at an altitude of 144 feet above sea level, maintaining a speed of 107 mph. The terrain surrounding Lake Itinik is flat, featureless Arctic tundra, and the lake itself sits at an elevation of 56 feet above sea level.
The victims of the crash were identified as pilot Bernard Tony Higdon and three scientists from Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources – Ronald Daanen, Justin Germann, and Tori Moore. Higdon, 48, was a resident of North Pole, Alaska, while Daanen, 51, hailed from the Netherlands but resided in Fairbanks. Germann, 27, and Moore, 26, both called Fairbanks their home as well.
The helicopter, owned and operated by Maritime Helicopters of Homer, Alaska, was under contract to transport scientific crews to various remote locations on the North Slope. These crews would carry out important field work on behalf of the Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys.
The ill-fated flight took off from Utqiagvik, the nation’s northernmost community, at approximately 10 a.m. on July 20. It was scheduled to make a brief stop at the Atqasuk airport before continuing its journey toward remote sites east of Wainwright. Unfortunately, the crash occurred around an hour after departure.
When the helicopter failed to return to Utqiagvik as planned, the North Slope Search and Rescue team mobilized. They deployed a Sikorsky S-92 helicopter to search for the missing aircraft. The wreckage was eventually located in the shallow waters of Lake Itinik, about 30 miles east of Wainwright. The bodies of the victims were recovered a few days later.
The retrieved wreckage was transported to Utqiagvik for examination before being transferred to Anchorage for further investigation. Federal investigators will continue their efforts to determine the cause of the crash in the coming months.
This devastating incident serves as a somber reminder of the risks involved in conducting scientific fieldwork in remote and challenging environments. The loss of these dedicated scientists and their pilot is a tragic blow to the scientific community and their respective families. Our thoughts and condolences go out to all those affected by this heartbreaking event.
