Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific

The twin engine aircraft departed Pucallpa on a geophysical survey mission on behalf of a mining company. The fuel reserve gave an autonomy of 10 hours. About two hours and a half into the flight, ATC recorded a brief ELT signal and SAR operations were initiated. The burnt wreckage was found few hours later by the crew of a helicopter on the slope of a mountain. All three occupants were killed.

On March 9, 1996, a De Havilland DHC-6-200, N245GW, registered to Air Associates Inc., leased to Carson Services Inc., operating as a 14 CFR part 91 aerial survey flight, crashed at an undetermined time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the departure airport, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane is missing and is presumed destroyed. The American pilot-in-command, American survey operator, and Peruvian Air Force observer are missing, and are presumed to be fatally injured. The flight originated from Bagua, Peru, at about 0617 mountain daylight time. Personnel from the Director General of Civil Aviation stated, the airplane departed from Bagua, Peru, conducting an aerial geological survey near the disputed boarder with Ecuador, in the Cenepa River area over dense Amazon jungle. The airplane did not return to Bagua, and there are no known recorded radio communications with N245GW. Search and rescue operations have been uneventful.

The single engine aircraft departed Chokurdakh Airport with four scientists and a crew of five on board. The goal of the mission was to locate landing zones in the Arctic region and Laptev Sea. After landing on a drifting icy floe, the skis went through the ice and the aircraft came to rest. All nine occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft sank and was lost.

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.

The single engine aircraft was engaged in an oil exploration expedition, carrying two pilots and 20 geologists and scientists. After takeoff, the aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height, stalled and crashed in a snow covered field. All 22 occupants were rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupants fate unknown.

The crew departed Rzhevka Airport on a mission consisting of temperature reading of the Baltic Sea. While cruising at an altitude of 300 meters, the right engine lost power (possibly due to icing). The aircraft lost speed and height, and the captain decided to ditch the aircraft in the Irben Strait south of the Saaremaa island (Estonia). The aircraft sank after 12 minutes. All 6 crew and 4 passengers were rescued by a patrol boat.

The airplane departed Magadan-Sokol Airport on a scientific flight to Nikolayevsk-on-Amur, carrying seven crew members and four scientists who were in charge to proceed with temperature measurements of the water surface in the Okhotsk Sea. En route, weather conditions deteriorated and the decision to return was taken too late. While cruising at an altitude of 140 meters in limited visibility, the crew initiated a right turn in a slight climb when the airplane struck the slope of a hill (152 meters high) located in the southwest part of the Utichiy Island (Shantar Islands), in the west part of the Okhotsk Sea. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 11 occupants were killed.

Upon landing about 35 miles east of North Ice Camp, one of the wheels broke through the ice. The aircraft came to rest and was abandoned. No one was injured. The airplane was engaged in a scientific mission on behalf of the University of Washington.

After landing on a remote airfield, the twin engine airplane struck an irregularities on the ground and came to rest with its right engine partially torn off. Both occupants escaped uninjured while the airplane was abandoned on site.