Arctic

The aircraft was engaged in an expedition over the Arctic and was completing a flight from Longyearbyen (Spitzberg Islands) to Barrow, Alaska, with another Cessna 185. The crew of the Cessna landed first to check the ice thickness. When the AN-2 landed, the ice started to crack. The pilot attempted to takeoff but the undercarriage went through the ice and the aircraft came to rest partially submerged in water. All five occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The single engine aircraft was engaged in a special flight to Artica, carrying four scientists and five crew members. Following an uneventful flight in good weather conditions, the crew selected a landing area on the ice. After touchdown, the right ski went through the ice and the aircraft came to a halt. All nine occupants deplaned when the aircraft sank and was lost.

After landing on an icy area located near the North Pole, one of the ski went through the ice and the airplane came to rest. All nine occupants, among them seven tourists, evacuated the cabin safely. The aircraft later sank and was lost.

On a flight from Bukhta Somnitelnaya (Wrangel Island) to a drifting ice floe in the central Arctic Basin when the ski of the right main landing gear hit an ice hummock during the landing run and broke. The nose of the aircraft touched the ice and the fuselage broke into three when falling back onto the ice. All 6 crew and 4 passengers escaped unhurt and were evacuated by another aircraft. The wreck was set on fire and abandoned on the drifting ice floe. It was spotted by an aircraft of the Icelandic Coast Guard about 155 miles north-west of Iceland (approximately 10-20 miles off Scoresby Sound on Greenland's East Coast) 11DEC1959 but could no longer be found a few days later because of fog. It eventually sank.

The crew was performing a supply mission to the Arctic expedition 'Sever' located on a drifting ice floe near the North Pole (at N89.1500 W90.0000). On approach, while at a height of 15 meters, the aircraft pitched down and crashed in flames on the ice. All five occupants were able to evacuate the cabin and were slightly injured. The aircraft was quickly destroyed by fire.

The crew was taking part to an expedition to the North Pole on behalf of the program of the Norwegian Scientist Roald Amundsen. The airplane departed Ny-Ålesund, in the Svalbard Archipelago, on a flight to the North Pole. After a flight of eight hours, the crew encountered engine problems and completed a safe landing on the ice. It is believed that the aircraft encountered problems on takeoff and landing as well. As the fuselage was damaged, it was decided to abandon the aircraft on the ice and the crew later returned to Norway with another Dornier Do J Wal registered N-25.
Crew:
Leif Ragnar Dietrichson, pilot,
Lincoln Ellsworth, navigator,
Oskar Omdal, mechanic.