The National Transportation Safety Board today released information about the cause of the mid-air collision on June 29, 2008 of the two medical helicopters in Flagstaff, Arizona. One of the ships carried as a patient firefighter Michael MacDonald of the Chief Mountain Hot Shots who was being evacuated from a fire in Grand Canyon National Park.
Wildfire Today initially covered the incident HERE, and later we provided more information about Mr. MacDonald HERE.
According to the report:
The National Transportation Safety Board has determined that the probable cause of a midair collision between two emergency medical service (EMS) helicopters last year was that both pilots’ failed to see and avoid the other helicopter on approach to the helipad. Contributing to the accident were the failure of one of the pilots to follow arrival and noise abatement guidelines and the failure of the other pilot to follow communications guidelines.
On June 29, 2008, about 3:47 pm MST, two Bell 407 EMS helicopters, operated by Air Methods Corporation, and by Classic Helicopter Services, collided in midair while approaching the Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC) helipad in Flagstaff, Arizona. All 7 persons aboard the two helicopters were killed and both helicopters were destroyed.
