Three killed in Alaska State Trooper Helo-1 crash
The Division of Alaska State Troopers has reported that on 30 March, its Helo-1 AS350 B3 (A-Star) aircraft crashed following a search mission, resulting in the deaths of its two crew members and the snowmobile rider who had been rescued shortly before the accident.
The Division of Alaska State Troopers has reported that on 30 March, its Helo-1 AS350 B3 (A-Star) aircraft crashed following a search mission, resulting in the deaths of its two crew members and the snowmobile rider who had been rescued shortly before the accident.
The helicopter crew had been deployed in the evening of 30 March following a request to assist an injured snowmobile rider near Larsen Lake, approximately 10 miles east of the small town of Talkeetna. The information received by the Division was that a lone snowmobiler had crashed and suffered broken ribs, and that he could not get out on his own and had inadequate gear to spend the night in the wilderness.
After Helo-1 was approved to perform a search and rescue mission, pilot Trooper Mel Nading departed from Anchorage and flew to Talkeetna to pick up Trooper Tage Toll, a statement from the Division explains. At approximately 22:00 hrs, radio communication with Helo-1 indicated that the crew had located the injured snowmobiler, who was tentatively identified as 56-year-old Talkeetna resident Carl Ober, and a request was made for a ground ambulance to rendezvous with Helo-1 in Talkeetna to transport Ober to hospital. However, Helo-1 did not make the rendezvous. A team of two Alaska Wildlife Troopers (AWT) were mobilised to respond to the area by snowmobile. A request was made through the Rescue Coordination Center for the Alaska National Guard’s 176th Air Wing to search the area and the 210th, 211th and 212th Rescue Squadrons were alerted.
Rescue aircraft located the wreckage of Helo-1 near the south end of Larson Lake; two pararescue jumpers were lowered down to the scene and the two AW Troopers were on scene shortly after. An assessment of the scene was conducted, but it was determined that there were no survivors from the crash of Helo-1.
The Division said that it will not speculate on the cause of the accident, adding that the National Transportation Safety Board will conduct an investigation into the cause and circumstances.
Trooper Melvin ‘Mel’ Nading is survived by his wife, three daughters and five granddaughters.
During his 13 years with the Alaska Department of Public Safety, he was its primary search and rescue pilot. He was also an instructor pilot for both the Department’s A-Star and R-44 helicopters and routinely certified department pilots on both aircraft. In 2012 alone, Nading flew 73 rescues, 13 medical evacuations, recovered eight bodies and assisted with two arrests. The Division stated that Nading was well respected among the search and rescue community and was known for his attention to safety. In 2008, he and Sgt Bryan Barlow were recipients of the Governor’s Denali Award Peak Performance and received a Commendation for Meritorious Service for saving the life of a kayaker caught in a bore tide on 29 July 2007, by hovering close to the water so that Barlow could lean out and pull the kayaker to safety.
Trooper Tage Toll of Talkeetna joined the Division in 2003 after working for two years with the Kansas Highway Patrol. He transferred to Talkeetna in 2009. Toll was a Department of Public Safety firearms instructor and a member of the Southcentral Special Emergency Reaction Team. He is survived by his wife and three sons.
Image: library photo of Helo-1 / Courtesy Alaska State Troopers