Mercy Air Crash

jkphotog1 · Post by **jkphotog1** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 9:43 pm

Medical helicopter crashes, killing 3 crew members east of LA
Associated Press
DEVORE, Calif. - A Medevac helicopter crashed late Sunday near the Cajon Pass, killing the pilot and two crew members, authorities said.

The accident occurred about 6 p.m. as the Bell 412 utility helicopter left from Loma Linda Medical Center to its base in Victorville, said Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration.

The pilot may have encountered fog in the Cajon Pass and authorities were investigating the possibility the helicopter clipped some power lines before it crashed and burned, Gregor said.

All three crew members aboard were killed. Their identities were not immediately released.

No patients were aboard the aircraft.

Several residents told authorities they saw the helicopter "in distress" before crashing, said Arden Wilshire, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

The helicopter belongs to Mercy Air Service, Inc., a subsidiary of Air Methods Corp., the nation's largest operator of air ambulances. Messages left for Mercy and Air Methods were not immediately returned Sunday.

There are about 650 emergency medical service helicopters operating in the U.S., according to the FAA. A federal investigation earlier this year found there were 55 air ambulance accidents between 2002 and 2005. The number of Medevac fatalities doubled to 62 in the 2001-05 period from the previous five years.

Federal safety investigators have recommended better pilot training, night vision goggles and crash avoidance systems to reduce air ambulance accidents.

Emergency medical services pilots often fly in dangerous conditions and are pressured to save lives. Despite those hazards, the operators are under less government oversight than commercial airlines and face fewer government restrictions when they are flying without a patient.

Devore is 55 miles northeast of Los Angeles.

mike · Post by **mike** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 8:53 am

Thats really sad news to hear

.

N6ATF · Post by **N6ATF** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 12:45 pm

So that's what made Copter 1 the only option last night. Damn.

I saw an episode of COPS a few days ago where ASTREA did an EMS transport. Not sure which decade that was filmed in...

mike · Post by **mike** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 9:15 am

That episode was back in 89 or the early 90's I think im not sure though.

Post by **Brian** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 12:31 pm

The whole 'Mercy Air' fleet was grounded. but as of today some of the fleet is flying now! (Per KNBC 4 LA @ 11:am news)

The aircraft was operated by LifeNet, Inc., a subsidiary of Air Methods.
http://www.airmethods.com/company/press ... cle_id=253

Rescue Pooh · Post by **Rescue Pooh** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 7:14 pm

I drove by Gillespie today and they had two helos at the base one appeared to be having engine work done.

Post by **Brian** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 2:34 pm

nice page on mercy air 2
http://www.airmethods.com/memorial.htm