Bell 212 accident near Deadhorse, Alaska, September 29, 1988
On September 29, 1988 at about 5:25 pm local time, a Bell 212 (helicopter), registered N397EH, was destroyed in an accident near Deadhorse, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 1988 · about 5:25 pm local time
- Place
- Deadhorse, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bell 212 · all 212s on the register
- Registration
- N397EH · no longer on the register · serial 30764
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED A WHITEOUT CONDITION AND ELECTED TO LAND ON A FROZEN LAKE APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT. AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON THE ICE, THE HELICOPTER BROKE THE ICE AND ROLLED OVER ON ITS BACK. THE HELICOPTER WAS DESTROYED BY GROUND FIRE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,340 hours in all; 1,191 in this make and model; 222 in the last 90 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,238 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 7, 1988; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,200 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6-3 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SCC Deadhorse AK at 12:20 pm
- Destination: ANC Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.