Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

On October 11, 1990, about 1730 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Gulfstream Aerospace 690C Turbine Commander airplane, N45Q, is presumed to have crashed in the Arctic Ocean about 200 miles north-northwest of Deadhorse, Alaska. Neither the airplane nor its occupants have been located. The airplane was being operated by the US Department of the Interior, as a visual flight rules (VFR) public use local game management flight, for the purpose of locating radio collared polar bears, when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to Bowhead Equipment Company of Seattle, Washington, and operated by Alaska Helicopters, Inc. of Anchorage, Alaska, is presumed to have been destroyed. The certificated airline transport pilot, and the two passengers, are presumed to have received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the point of departure. A VFR flight plan was filed by the pilot for a 5.5 hour flight originating and terminating at Deadhorse. The accident flight originated at the Deadhorse Airport about 1429. According to information received from the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA), Air Route Traffic Control Center, radar contact was lost with the accident airplane while it was maneuvering at 22,000 feet msl, about 200 miles north-northwest of Deadhorse. The accident airplane did not reach the intended destination of Deadhorse, and was not located at any airport. The FAA issued an alert notice (ALNOT) at 2221. Search personnel began an extensive search effort that included a high altitude, special radar-equipped airplane, surface vessels, and ground search personnel. The search was suspended on October 26, 1990.

The aircraft departed Chita on a flight to Tungokochen with an intermediate stop in Usugli, carrying three crew members who were engaged in a forest survey mission. The takeoff roll in Usugli was long and the airplane took off after a distance of 400 meters. During initial climb, at a height of 100 meters, the pilot initiated a left turn when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a swamp. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

The aircraft was engaged in a survey flight against potential forest fire, carrying two observers and three crew members. Upon landing on a remote strip in the region of Nerpo, the aircraft encountered strong winds and was unable to stop in time so it collided with trees and came to rest. All five occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The crew was completing a survey flight at low level when the right wing failed. The aircraft went out of control and crashed near Hassela. Both crew members were killed.

The twin engine airplane departed Ponta Delgada Airport at 1449LT on a survey flight over the Atlantic ocean to trace shoals of tuna, carrying two passengers, one observer and one pilot. At 1751LT, the mission was over and the pilot was cleared to descend to Horta Airport. On final approach to runway 29, after being cleared to land, the aircraft entered a right turn then lost height and crashed 600 meters to the right of the runway 29 extended centerline. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

The twin engine aircraft departed Edinburgh at 0832LT on a flight to Stornoway. At 0859LT, the crew was cleared to reach the operational zone and three minutes later, reached the altitude of 3,500 feet under VFR mode. While cruising at the altitude of 200 feet and at a speed of 130 knots, the right engine lost power. The crew cancelled the sortie and decided to divert to Port Ellen Airport. After the right propeller had been feathered, the aircraft lost speed and the crew was unable to maintain a safe altitude so he decided to ditch the aircraft 5 nm east of Colonsay Island. All three occupants took refuge on the left wing but the aircraft sank after few minutes and the wreckage was not recovered. All three occupants were rescued 40 minutes later and suffered hypothermia as the water temperature was 11° C.

Crashed in unknown circumstances in the sea 2 km off the Sakom beach. All four crew members were killed.

When the survey aircraft failed to arrive at the destination, and on expiry of the SAR time, a search was commenced. Wreckage of the aircraft was subsequently found on the eastern slope of Mt Barren Jack, to the north west of the mouth of Carrolls Creek, and on the planned track for the survey operation. Observers at the Burrinjuck reservoir near the mouth of Carrolls Creek described the weather in the accident area at the time as black clouds spilling over and obscuring the mountain tops. The aircraft collided with trees on the side of the mountain, while banked steeply to the right and in a tail low attitude. The pilot was thrown from the aircraft during the impact sequence. Medical opinion held that there was no evidence of body trauma consistent with the seat belt being fastened at the time of impact. The flight was completed on behalf of the Bureau of Mineral Resources (BMR) and both occupants were killed.

The aircraft departed Cape Schmidt on a special flight to Pevek consisting of a survey mission of the ice drifting in the Chukotka Sea. While approaching the coast at a height of 100 meters, the pilot initiated a turn to the right to 270° when the aircraft struck the rocky face of a mountain (145 meters high) overhanging the sea. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 10 occupants were killed.

Shortly after takeoff from Cape Schmidt Airfield, while climbing to a height of 100 meters, both engines lost power and failed. The crew attempted to ditch the aircraft in the Akatan lagoon. The airplane came to rest in 50 cm of water about 200 meters offshore. All nine occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The crew was completing a survey flight over the Chokutka Sea.