Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX N321BA

Fatal Accident (10) – Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX, N321BA, Norton Sound, 34 miles SE of Nome, AK, February 6, 2025

Aviation Safety X Report

On February 6, 2025, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX operated by Bering Air, designated as Flight 445, departed Unalakleet Airport at 2:38 PM local time, bound for Nome Airport. The aircraft, registered as N321BA, carried a total of ten people, including nine passengers and one pilot. The aircraft’s last known transmission was received at approximately 3:16 PM, at an altitude of 5,300 feet while flying over Norton Sound, located 34 miles southeast of Nome, Alaska. Shortly afterward, communication was lost, and the aircraft disappeared from radar. The U.S. Coast Guard and Alaska State Troopers launched an immediate search operation upon learning of the disappearance. Rescue efforts were complicated by poor weather conditions and the vast expanse of sea ice and open water in the region. A Coast Guard C-130 aircraft and National Guard helicopters were deployed, along with local search and rescue teams. Despite their efforts, initial search flights on the evening of February 6 failed to locate the missing aircraft. On February 7, the wreckage of Flight 445 was discovered partially submerged on unstable sea ice in Norton Sound. Coast Guard divers were deployed and were able to confirm the deaths of three individuals, while the remaining seven were presumed deceased, as they were believed to be trapped within the wreckage. Authorities noted that the aircraft had broken into pieces upon impact, and that the absence of an emergency transmitter signal hindered initial location efforts. The cause of the crash is still under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, but initial data suggests that the aircraft experienced a rapid loss of altitude and speed at approximately 3:18 PM, shortly before it disappeared from radar. The pilot had reportedly contacted Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center earlier in the flight, indicating that they were entering a holding pattern while waiting for clearance to land. Weather conditions in the region included strong winds, freezing temperatures, and reduced visibility, all of which are common hazards for aviation in Alaska. Bering Air, the airline operating Flight 445, is a regional carrier based in Nome, Alaska, specializing in commuter, charter, and air ambulance services across remote areas of the state. The airline has a history of reliable service but, like many carriers in Alaska, faces challenges associated with the region’s extreme weather, lack of infrastructure, and reliance on small aircraft for essential transportation. The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX is a single-engine turboprop aircraft known for its durability and versatility, commonly used for short-haul routes in remote regions. Two of the passengers onboard, Rhone Baumgartner and Kameron Hartvigson, were identified as employees of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. They were traveling to Unalakleet to conduct maintenance on a heat recovery system for a community water plant. The identities of the remaining passengers have not been publicly disclosed, but all were adults. Recovery efforts have been severely hampered by unstable sea ice and an incoming winter storm, which threaten the integrity of the wreckage site. Authorities are working against time to recover the bodies, document evidence, and salvage portions of the aircraft for forensic analysis before deteriorating conditions make further operations impossible. The National Transportation Safety Board, in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration and local aviation authorities, is expected to release a preliminary report within the coming weeks. Investigators will analyze weather conditions, flight path data, aircraft maintenance records, and pilot communications to determine the exact cause of the crash. As of now, it is unclear whether mechanical failure, weather-related issues, or pilot error played a primary role in the accident. Flight 445’s disappearance and crash highlight the ongoing risks associated with air travel in Alaska, a state where aviation is a lifeline for many remote communities. The accident has prompted discussions about improving safety measures, communication systems, and emergency response capabilities for small carriers operating in harsh Arctic conditions.

Video Blancolirio KNOM	Accident Location: Norton Sound, 34 miles ESE of Nome, AK 64°21’00.0″N 164°16’00.1″W	FAA Registration 🇺🇸 N321BA	Year of Manufacture 2020
Serial Number 208B5613	ADS-B Exchange	flightradar24	FlightAware
NTSB Database	Social Media Facebook Instagram LinkedIn X – Bering Air	Local News ADN ADN APN	National News Reuters CNN BBC
ASN	Aircraft Operator Bering Air	Image References ADN FB ACI	Additional

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