# NTSB ANC69A0023: Bell 47J-2, N8438E, Prudhoe Bay, AK, October 15, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 15, 1968
- Place: Prudhoe Bay, AK · PRUDHOE BAY, AK
- Location: 70.2553° N, 148.3372° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Prudhoe Bay, AK, within about 11 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=70.2553&lon=-148.3372&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 4, 1969
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 107735
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC69A0023
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC69A0023

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4545  68/10/15 NR.PRUDHOE BAY,ALAS   BELL 47J-2          CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0815                    N8438E              PX-  0  1  2  AIR TAXI-PASSG            AGE 34, 5500 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            4300 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           TERRAIN - SNOW-COVERED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - WINDSHIELD,DIRTY,FOGGY,ETC.-RESTRICTED VISION
        REMARKS- LOSS OF DEPTH PRECEPTION DURING 180 DEG TURN OVER SNOW COVERED LAKE.LARGE AREA OF BUBBLE FOGGED UP
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8438E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8438E-1971-03-31), registration cancelled 1971-03-31, S/N 1816 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47J-2
- Registry model: [Bell 47J-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47j-2) (registry code 1181104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## Other investigations on N8438E (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB OAK65A0070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK65A0070), Jun 6, 1965: Bell 47J2 (N8438E), Willits, CA, substantial damage

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.