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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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October 12, 1990 · Gulfstream Aerospace 690C · N45Q

Deadhorse, AK

Overview

Report Status
Factual report
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 12, 1990
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Location
Deadhorse, AK
Aircraft
Gulfstream Aerospace 690C
Tail Number
N45Q
Operator
Alaska Helicopters
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ANC91GAMS1

The airplane with a certificated airline transport pilot and two passengers aboard departed on a US Department of the Interior, public use flight over the Arctic Ocean. The purpose of the flight was to locate radio collared polar bears. Radar contact with the airplane was lost while it was maneuvering at 22,000 feet msl about 200 miles from shore. The airplane did not reach the intended destination, and neither the airplane nor its occupants were located during an extensive search.

Full Narrative

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 orginating 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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:30 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftGulfstream Aerospace 690C
Tail NumberN45Q
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorAlaska Helicopters
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsGarrett · TPE331-5-254K · Turboprop · 718
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Fatal3
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 50 · Second Class · Fatal

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data