Was Conducting SAR Operations

A sad tale from Alabama, as three persons searching for a missing hunter this weekend were killed when their helicopter went down near the community of Tuscumbia.

The Associated Press reports the crew had just spotted the hunter, when their Bell 206A (file photo of type shown above) crashed in the heavily wooded area. The helo was hovering over the hunter when it went down, according to FAA spokesman Warren Woodberry.

Lost in the accident was pilot Michael Baker, and crew members Allan Bragwell and Tiffany Miles. All three were employed by Air Evac, the operator of the helicopter. Company president and CEO Colin Collins said the three were "our family members, and we are devastated at this loss."

The hunter was eventually rescued, and taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. He went missing Saturday night in the 31,572-acre Freedom Hills Wildlife Management Area, according to Colbert County Sheriff Ronnie May.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 109AE        Make/Model: B206      Description: BELL 206B HELICOPTER
  Date: 12/30/2007     Time: 0850

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: TUSCUMBIA   State: AL   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  N109AE, A BELL 206L ROTORCRAFT, CRASHED WHILE CONDUCTING SEARCH AND RESCUE
  OPERATIONS IN A HEAVILY WOODED AREA, THE THREE PERSONS ON BOARD WERE
  FATALLY INJURED, NEAR TUSCUMBIA, AL

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   3
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   2     Fat:   2     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: KMSL 300853Z AUTO 00000KT 5SM BR BKN 075 OVC085 05/04 A3002

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Other      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: BIRMINGHAM, AL  (SO09)                Entry date: 12/31/2007

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.lifeteam.net/