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Email this StoryFAA & NTSB investigate deadly medical helicopter crash
Posted - 7/29/2010 at 9:16PM by Lupita Murillo
Lupita Murillo - View Bio
TUCSON - The three people who died when the medical helicopter crashed have been identified.
61-year old Alexander Kelley was flying the helicopter that was headed to Douglas from Marana when it went down at Park and Glenn.
Also on board, 41-year old flight nurse Parker Summons and 28-year old Brenda French, a paramedic.
Federal investigators have the task of finding out just what went wrong. A news conference was held by Air Methods. They own and operate Lifenet. They say the helicopter had been in operation a year and was state of the art.
Craig Yale, Vice-President of Corporate Development for the Colorado-based Air Methods says, "It had night vision goggle capability. It had what's called helicopter trained avoidance warning system on board, it had a wire strike kit, it had in cockpit satellite weather, it had a very modern avionics kit."
Officials say the crew was picking up the helicopter after being stored in a facility in Marana. It was in for routine maintenance. Yale said, "They had transferred into it and were returning to their base. It was there primary aircraft."
An aircraft that is considered by Air Methods to be extremely reliable, and suited for the Arizona weather.
Yale says he doesn't know what caused the crash. "That's an ongoing investigation. The FAA and NTSB will be involved in making that determination," he says. Meanwhile, Air Methods is planning a memorial for the crew that died.
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AL GROWCHEE (1 total posts | +2 total karma)
7/29/2010 at 7:33PM
As a helicopter pilot in the same industry my respect goes out to these brave people who manage risk on a daily basis to save lives. Condolences to their families. I have been honored to work with good men and women such as they are, who have helped others without hesitation or for want of reward. My respect to them.
Sparky1992 (23 total posts | -17 total karma)
7/31/2010 at 8:45AM
Welcome the you back with open arms, back in tucson. With out your crews, peopals live would be in danger, and the 3 brave people with gave there on lives last tuesday, would want you folks to keep going.
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