A fatal helicopter crash on Alaska’s remote North Slope claimed the lives of two men who were experts in their fields: Shiloh Schulte, 46, a shorebird biologist from Maine, and Jonathan Guibas, 54, an experienced helicopter pilot recently hired by a Wasilla-based aviation company.
The crash occurred on June 4 about 25 to 30 miles southwest of Deadhorse, near Kuparuk. The Robinson R66 helicopter, operated by Pollux Aviation, departed from Prudhoe Bay around 10:40 am under special visual flight rules clearance, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. The aircraft was supporting a wildlife research mission when it went down.
Schulte, a senior scientist at Manomet Conservation Sciences based in Plymouth, Massachusetts, had traveled to Alaska for fieldwork. According to the organization, he was en route to deploy recording devices on shorebirds as part of an ongoing research effort. Schulte was known nationally for restoring populations of the American oystercatcher and for his broader work in shorebird conservation. He lived in Kennebunk, Maine, where he had previously served on the town’s Select Board, and was the father of two daughters.
“Shiloh was a deeply respected member of the Manomet Conservation Sciences team, whose passion for shorebird conservation and unwavering commitment to protecting our planet inspired everyone fortunate enough to work alongside him,” the nonprofit said in a statement.
Also killed in the crash was pilot Jonathan Guibas, who had recently joined Pollux Aviation. Guibas had a long and accomplished career in rotorcraft aviation, with prior experience as chief helicopter pilot and operations officer at Protocom Aviation, and leadership roles at Skyland Aviation Services and Hampton Roads Helicopters in Virginia. Before relocating to Alaska, he had lived in California, Guam, and Virginia. His mother told Alaska Public Media that he had only recently moved to Wasilla to begin work with Pollux.
The wreckage was located by North Slope Borough Search and Rescue teams, and recovery operations began on June 6. The helicopter is being transported to Deadhorse as part of the ongoing NTSB investigation. The cause of the crash is under investigation.