Where We Searched

The Niku VI expedition searche depths at and above 300 meters off the west end of the atoll.

Ten expeditions over the past twenty-two years have uncovered abundant evidence that this uninhabited waterless atoll is where Earhart and Noonan died as castaways. The available clues strongly suggest that the Electra was landed on the reef at the west end of the atoll and was later washed over the reef edge. The more massive components of the aircraft – i.e. the engines and center section – should be at the base of the reef slope. That’s where anything that went over the reef edge that was too heavy to be swept away by surf or currents is most likely to have come to rest. During Niku VI, the shallower areas (300 meters and less) were examined with HD video and sonar to begin the process of mapping the slope.

SeaBotix LBV and tether.

The 2010 Niku VI expedition was equipped with a SeaBotix LBV Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) with an HD video camera and a 300 meter (984 foot) fiber-optic tether.

Video imagery from the ROV gave us the first detailed picture anyone has ever had of the underwater environment at Nikumaroro below scuba depth (about 100 feet). We discovered that the reef slope is much steeper than anyone knew and, except for some narrow shelving, is basically a cliff face that is too steep to catch aircraft wreckage.

The only man-made objects encountered on the shelving, aside from some debris from the Norwich City shipwreck, were what appeared to be a small semi-circle of wire (but may also have been a piece of “whip coral”) and a couple pieces of rope. Perhaps coincidentally, these objects were seen deep on the reef slope below the spot where we think the airplane went over the edge.

	Semi-circle of possible wire.
	Length of small diameter rope.

The base of the cliff where the slope begins to shallow out is at 300 meters (984 feet). In other words, the depth at which we had to stop searching turned out to be the depth at which we really need to start searching. Three hundred meters is also the transitional area where the last faint traces of sunlight from the surface fade to the total blackness of the deep ocean. Airplane wreckage in this “twilight zone” should not be obscured by coral growth.

	Jesse Rodocker of SeaBotix plays out the ROV tether from aboard VVS1 during the Niku VI expedition.

During the Niku VI expedition the ROV was operated from both Nai’a and VvS1 – good ships, but they were chosen for their suitability to transport and support the land archaeological team. With no way to hold a steady position while being pushed about by wind and waves, the ships were acceptable platforms for only a relatively shallow search. To conduct a search at depths well below 300 meters we’ll need a more sophisticated ROV with a much longer tether and a ship with “dynamic positioning” – powerful thrusters linked to a GPS system that allow the ship to maintain a rock-solid position over a particular spot on the ocean bottom.

There is much to be done in planning, staffing, equipping – and funding – the Niku 7 expedition. The price tag will likely be in the neighborhood of three to five million dollars so we’re going to need some heavy-duty sponsorship. Individuals and corporations who are interested in exploring sponsorship opportunities are invited to contact TIGHAR Executive Director Ric Gillespie.

Email: ric@tighar.org
Phone: (610) 467-1937