N962MD Robinson R66 Turbine Aviation Accident 2025-06-04
FATAL ACCIDENT (2) - Higgins Leasing Inc, opb Pollux Aviation owned Robinson R66 Turbine, N962MD, North Slope, near Kuparuk, about 30 miles W of Deadhorse, AK , June 04, 2025.
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Accident Information
Approx. Accident Location | Aircraft Fat. | Aircraft Inj. | Ground Fat. | Ground Inj. | ASN Entry |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
70°11'0.77"N, 149°40'33.60"W | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Aviation Safety Network |
Aircraft Information
Type | Operator | Registration | Serial Number | Manufacture Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Robinson R66 Turbine | Higgins Leasing Inc, opb Pollux Aviation | N962MD | 0725 | 2016 |
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ASX Accident Report
On Wednesday, June 4, 2025, a Robinson R66 Turbine helicopter, registered as N962MD and operated by Pollux Aviation under Higgins Leasing Inc., crashed on Alaska’s North Slope during a flight that originated from Prudhoe Bay/Deadhorse Airport (PASC). The helicopter went down around 11:00 local time near the Kuparuk oil field, approximately 30 miles west of Deadhorse. Both individuals on board were fatally injured, and the aircraft was completely destroyed. The mission profile was not disclosed in detail, but flight tracking confirms it was airborne prior to the accident. The wreckage was located by North Slope Borough Search and Rescue teams, and a response team from the NTSB was mobilized from Anchorage to investigate the site.
Initial indications of the crash emerged after the helicopter was reported missing, prompting a coordinated search. Eyewitnesses from the Nuiqsut area observed a column of smoke that same day, suggesting the impact and subsequent fire were significant and immediate. No distress calls or communications from the flight crew were reported prior to the crash. As of the latest reports, neither the identities of the victims nor the nature of their operation (e.g., survey, shuttle, private) had been released by officials. A spokesman from Pollux Aviation stated that the company is cooperating fully with the NTSB and FAA investigations and that the cause of the accident remains unknown at this time.
Pollux Aviation has been operating rotary-wing aircraft throughout Alaska since 1991, including extensive use of Robinson helicopters for transport and utility purposes. The aircraft involved was manufactured in 2016 and bore the manufacturer serial number 0725. Weather conditions at the time of the crash have not been formally cited as a factor, and no mechanical issues have been publicly identified. The NTSB has opened a formal inquiry into the accident, and further updates will be issued as evidence is recovered and analyzed. The investigation will focus on maintenance records, flight data, crew qualifications, environmental conditions, and possible mechanical failure scenarios.
This page will be updated as more information becomes available.
Tracking and Social Media
- Flight Tracking: flightradar24, FlightAware, ADS-B Exchange, AirNav Radar
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube
Sources and References
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