Two Dead, Helo Manages Controlled Landing, Cessna Not So Fortunate

A tragic mid-air collision has claimed the live of two people aboard a Cessna 172 that clipped the skids of a Eurocopter EC135. The 1967 C-172 lost a significant portion of its left wing after colliding with the lower part of the EC135 and impacted an area approximately one half mile North of the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport in Weyers Cave, VA. The accident occurred at 1430 local time and involved AirCare 5, a medical transport helicopter, operated under contract by PHI. The Cessna was registered to a local pilot but actual occupants were not yet named by authorities.

AirCare 5

The EC135 was enroute back to the airport after a trip to University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, and was able to execute a controlled landing with three crewmembers aboard all accounted for as safe and uninjured. Damage to the helo's skids indicates that the impact was contained to the lower portion of the helicopter's airframe while the more vulnerable rotor system escaped unscathed.

A local media report quoted a local Helicopter instructor by the name of Mark Huntley who was reportedly working in his hangar when he heard the mid-air. Huntley said that, “I saw the helicopter come in and… it wasn’t pretty,” and thought the pilot did an “amazing job” of getting the aircraft down. “It was a combination of how well all the safety features they have on that aircraft worked and [the pilot’s] ability to recover... It’s a testament to the training those boys get.” The EC135 was crewed by pilot Paul Weve, co-pilot and flight nurse Joseph Root, and flight nurse Carolyn Booke.

Cessna 172 (File Photo)

AirCare is a division of PHI, Inc., and provides emergency medical transport service to the Shenandoah Valley and eastern West Virginia. AirCare notes that their primary mission 'is transporting and providing in-flight intensive care for the critically ill or injured patients who require the specialized services of a tertiary medical center or Level 1 trauma center. For critically ill or seriously injured patients, PHI Air Medical's speed, advanced medical equipment and highly trained personnel can make a lifesaving difference.' The aircraft are on-duty 24/7.

FMI: http://www.flyshd.com/v.php?pg=40, www.phihelico.com