logo
  • Explore
    • Local Events
    • Local News
    • Local Organisations
  • News
    • Community
    • Local Government
    • Sports
    • Alberta Politics
    • Opinion
    • Deke
  • Peaks & Valleys
    • Wildlife
    • Snow Sports
    • Hiking and Climbing
    • Biking
    • Fishing
  • Culture
    • Jasper Arts & Culture
    • Local Dining
    • Local Literature
  • Jasper History
    • Explore
      • Local Events
      • Local News
      • Local Organisations
    • News
      • Community
      • Local Government
      • Sports
      • Alberta Politics
      • Opinion
      • Deke
    • Peaks & Valleys
      • Wildlife
      • Snow Sports
      • Hiking and Climbing
      • Biking
      • Fishing
    • Culture
      • Jasper Arts & Culture
      • Local Dining
      • Local Literature
    • Jasper History
Helicopter sustains “incredible” damage after accident on Columbia Icefields
Community, Environment, Generic, News
By Bob Covey
Monday, April 24, 2023
Helicopter sustains “incredible” damage after accident on Columbia Icefields

A helicopter transporting Natural Resources Canada glacier surveyors had a hard landing on an icefield in Banff National Park April 14.

The accident left a Bell 407 helicopter in pieces, 3,000 metres above sea level, 3 km from the Saskatchewan Glacier. 

A helicopter sustained substantial damage after an accident on the Saskatchewan Glacier, in Banff National Park, on April 14. // Supplied

On Friday, April 14 at 3:35 p.m. Parks Canada dispatchers received a call that a helicopter had been involved in a hard landing near the Saskatchewan Glacier.

Parks Canada was able to contact the party by satellite phone and determine that all members were uninjured and that they were in a safe location and equipped to shelter in place on the glacier. Parks Canada contacted the aircraft operator by phone to inform them of the incident. A second helicopter was dispatched and on scene by 4:55 p.m., according to a spokesperson.

John Niddrie, a retired Parks Canada employee volunteering on the NRC’s snow measurement survey and who was a passenger in the helicopter that crashed, said poor visibility contributed to the accident.

“The pilot made a circle and when we dropped down the light…visibility definitely got flatter and became worse from flying snow from the rotor wash,” Niddrie said. 

“It happened quick—and we hit with a thud, nose first…the helicopter immediately flipped over onto its side.”


Advertisement inquires: andrea@ravencommunitymedia.com

The machine, owned by Alpine Helicopters Inc, was flying from Golden, B.C. and was contracted by the Department of Natural Resources Canada (DNRC) to conduct climate change geoscience field work.

Niddrie said after impact, the passengers and the pilot were shaken, but unhurt.

“We all seemed okay, I just knew we needed to get out ASAP, with the smell of aviation fuel, etc. which we all did.”

A helicopter attempting to land in poor visibility on the Saskatchewan Glacier sustained significant damage after it rolled onto its side but its pilot and passengers were uninjured. // Supplied

A second helicopter was dispatched to assist and evacuate, but as it turned out, only the pilot caught the flight home. After assessing their situation and communicating with dispatchers, the surveyors elected to continue with their climate change geoscience field work.

Despite the accident, glacier surveyors with the Department of National Resources Canada were able to access their packs and skis and elected to continue with their mission to conduct geoscience field work on the Columbia Icefields April 14. // Supplied

As weather improved, the team of three was shuttled further up onto the Columbia Icefields to their intended study plots, below Mount SnowDome—considered one of two hydrological apexes of the North American continent. 




“We were extremely lucky no one was seriously hurt,” Niddrie said. “The damage to the 407 was incredible, but the cabin stayed intact and no parts smashed through the windows.”

Despite the helicopter accident, researchers with the Department of Natural Resources Canada continued with their climate change geoscience field work on the Columbia Icefields April 14. // Supplied
DNRC researchers measuring snow height and density and collecting samples from various snow depths on the Columbia Icefields. // Supplied

The aircraft operator returned to the site on Tuesday, April 18, to begin initial cleanup of the area and plan for the removal of the damaged helicopter. Some contaminated material was bagged for removal, but cleanup work was stopped due to inclement weather, according to Parks Canada.


Advertisement

Parks Canada and the aircraft operator will return to the site on the week of April 24 in order to finalize cleanup of the spilled fuel and to remove the damaged helicopter, a spokesperson said.

At 13 km long and 30 km-square, the Saskatchewan Glacier is the largest outflow glacier from the Columbia Icefield, which rests along the Continental Divide. // Jo Nadeau
Saskatchewan Glacier, the headwaters of the Saskatchewan River, which flows to Lake Winnipeg, as seen in the summer. // Jo Nadeau

Alpine Helicopters Inc, which operates sightseeing flights over the Canadian Rockies as well as commercial and charter helicopter services, according to their website, did not return calls for comment.


Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

Articles You May LIke ›
No criminal charges in Ice Explorer accident: RCMP
Business
No criminal charges in Ice Explorer accident: RCMP
Bob Covey 
Friday, December 9, 2022
RCMP have determined that criminal charges are not warranted in the 2020 Columbia Icefields Ice Explorer rollover that killed three people.  Jasper RC...
this is a test
Most Read ›
Fully funded bridge proposal rebuffed by Jasper’s superintendent
News
Fully funded bridge proposal rebuffed by Jasper’s superintendent
Bob Covey 
Friday, May 5, 2023
Jasper National Park Superintendent Alan Fehr has declined a private offer to rebuild a washed-out bridge at Simon Creek, a structure which would allo...
this is a test
NDP’s Kreiner withdraws from all-candidates forum
Local Government
NDP’s Kreiner withdraws from all-candidates forum
Bob Covey 
Monday, May 15, 2023
West Yellowhead’s NDP candidate Fred Kreiner has elected not to participate in Jasper’s scheduled all-candidates forum. “I’ve decided and the NDP part...
this is a test
Helicopter sustains “incredible” damage after accident on Columbia Icefields
Community
Helicopter sustains “incredible” damage after accident on Columbia Icefields
Bob Covey 
Monday, April 24, 2023
A helicopter transporting Natural Resources Canada glacier surveyors had a hard landing on an icefield in Banff National Park April 14. The accident l...
this is a test
Letter: Keep up the public pressure to make Jasper’s backcountry safe
Opinion
Letter: Keep up the public pressure to make Jasper’s backcountry safe
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Re: Fully funded bridge proposal rebuffed by Jasper's superintendent (May 5, 2023) Dear Editor, This is an excellent article in The Jasper Local. I am...
this is a test
Latest ›
Letter: Maintaining the Athabasca Pass Heritage Trail
Opinion
Letter: Maintaining the Athabasca Pass Heritage Trail
Thursday, May 18, 2023
re: Fully funded bridge proposal rebuffed by Jasper’s superintendent (May 5, 2023)  Dear Editor, The Athabasca Pass Heritage Trail is a Canadian icon ...
this is a test
Store manager leaving a legacy of customer care
Store manager leaving a legacy of customer care
Bob Covey 
Thursday, May 18, 2023
Rick Lagace has stocked his last shelf. The store manager at TGP Your Jasper Grocer is retiring. Over hotdogs and pop in the TGP parking lot, Lagace s...
this is a test
Forty and fabulous: Mountain Air an OG of Jasper retail
Business
Forty and fabulous: Mountain Air an OG of Jasper retail
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Mountain Air stands as one of Jasper’s most unique, well-established shopping locations. Having celebrated the store’s 40th anniversary recently, the ...
this is a test
NDP’s Kreiner withdraws from all-candidates forum
Local Government
NDP’s Kreiner withdraws from all-candidates forum
Bob Covey 
Monday, May 15, 2023
West Yellowhead’s NDP candidate Fred Kreiner has elected not to participate in Jasper’s scheduled all-candidates forum. “I’ve decided and the NDP part...
this is a test

NEXT ARTICLE

Bear destroyed after dog mauling incident

Community, Environment, Generic, News

Most Read ›
Fully funded bridge proposal rebuffed by Jasper’s superintendent
News
Fully funded bridge proposal rebuffed by Jasper’s superintendent
Bob Covey 
Friday, May 5, 2023
Jasper National Park Superintendent Alan Fehr has declined a private offer to rebuild a washed-out bridge at Simon Creek, a structure which would allo...
this is a test
NDP’s Kreiner withdraws from all-candidates forum
Local Government
NDP’s Kreiner withdraws from all-candidates forum
Bob Covey 
Monday, May 15, 2023
West Yellowhead’s NDP candidate Fred Kreiner has elected not to participate in Jasper’s scheduled all-candidates forum. “I’ve decided and the NDP part...
this is a test
Helicopter sustains “incredible” damage after accident on Columbia Icefields
Community
Helicopter sustains “incredible” damage after accident on Columbia Icefields
Bob Covey 
Monday, April 24, 2023
A helicopter transporting Natural Resources Canada glacier surveyors had a hard landing on an icefield in Banff National Park April 14. The accident l...
this is a test
Letter: Keep up the public pressure to make Jasper’s backcountry safe
Opinion
Letter: Keep up the public pressure to make Jasper’s backcountry safe
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Re: Fully funded bridge proposal rebuffed by Jasper's superintendent (May 5, 2023) Dear Editor, This is an excellent article in The Jasper Local. I am...
this is a test
Latest ›
Perfect pitch: Jasper golfer an ambassador for women and deaf athletes
News
Perfect pitch: Jasper golfer an ambassador for women and deaf athletes
Women’s Golf Day at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Club is June 6
Bob Covey 
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Dressed in Sunday red, balanced perfectly on her follow-through and watching her golf ball arc above a stand of aspens on the hardest ranked hole at S...
this is a test
Team Orange has the blues: Low voter turnout in Neverland
Alberta Politics
Team Orange has the blues: Low voter turnout in Neverland
Bob Covey 
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Despite pundits calling this election the most important in Alberta’s history, only one in four eligible Jasperites made the trip down to the Jasper A...
this is a test
Undying loyalty to political parties (and hockey teams) is bad for Alberta
Editorial
Undying loyalty to political parties (and hockey teams) is bad for Alberta
Bob Covey 
Friday, May 26, 2023
Confession time: for as long as I can remember, I’ve been a Calgary Flames fan. It’s not my fault! When you’re eight-years-old and your dad is dancing...
this is a test
GYPSD trustees question Alberta charter schools
GYPSD trustees question Alberta charter schools
Bob Covey 
Friday, May 26, 2023
Grande Yellowhead Public School Division’s board of trustees is speaking out against publicly-funded charter schools. In an opinion piece run in regio...
this is a test

Copyright © The Jasper Local

This site complies with Jasper requirements
Contact us
Privacy Policy
Advertise With Us
About The Jasper Local
Accessibility Policy
This site complies with Jasper requirements
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise With Us
  • About The Jasper Local
  • Accessibility Policy

Follow Us

Advertise with us

Measurable, targeted, local. Email example@thejasperlocal.com

ePaper
coogle_play
app_store

© Copyright The Jasper Local