Medevac pilot blamed in crash

Published 10/28/09

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) - Last year's deadly medevac helicopter crash in Maryland was caused by a combination of factors including a pilot who was not proficient in instrument landing approaches, and air traffic controllers who provided outdated weather information, federal investigators said yesterday.

The National Transportation Safety Board concluded at a hearing that concerns with the pilot, air traffic control services at various sites and other issues likely caused the September 2008 crash in a wooded park in District Heights, killing four people.

NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman, Vice Chairman Christopher A. Hart and board member Robert L. Sumwalt questioned a team of investigators on their findings before approving the conclusions and recommendations for the emergency medical helicopter industry.

Hersman said a number of things could have been done to prevent the accident.

"I think the challenge in this probable cause is it wasn't just one thing," Hersman said after the hearing. "As we see in so many different accidents, this was a string of events where the chain was not broken and it resulted in an accident."

Two young women had been in a car accident and state protocol called for them to be flown for treatment.

The helicopter crash killed one of the car accident victims, 17-year-old Ashley Younger, along with the pilot Stephen Bunker, 59; flight paramedic Mickey Lippy, 34; and emergency medical technician Tanya Mallard, 39. The other car accident victim, 19-year-old Jordan Wells, survived the helicopter crash.

Investigators said Bunker was fully certified and qualified to fly by Maryland State Police standards. They also said that although the helicopter was part of an aging fleet, it had no maintenance issues.

Bunker inadequately assessed the weather, leading him to go forward with the flight, investigators said. As the weather worsened on the way to a Prince George's County hospital, he diverted the flight to Andrews Air Force Base and had to rely on the craft's instruments to fly.

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An Insult - 2009-10-28 15:49:34

You dishonor the pilot with your title. That is wrong! The report states he was given outdated weather information. He made what he thought was a rational decision. He did not inadequately assess the weather. The Air Force did. Then the conditions deteriorated. Who can predict that? The inexperienced flight controller at Andrews stated she was not familiar with the equipment used for instrument landings. The pilot was! We heard the tape months ago, and the report doesn't even mention that. The Air Force dropped the ball. They should be held accountable.

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Mark Praschak - Chester, MD - Karma: Neutral

Titles - 2009-10-28 15:45:16

I agree with Matt B. The pilot may have erred to a degree in flying in that weather but all the tv reports I saw put most of the blame on outdated equipment on the plane . More current instumentation would have alerted him to the obstacles. I don't think it's fair to lay all the blame on the pilot in the headline when there were a variety of factors.

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mike davis - , - Karma: Neutral

Titles - 2009-10-28 12:46:52

Whoever comes up with these story titles is doing a very bad job. This is atleast the 5th story I've read where the title says one thing only to find out in the story that it is much different.

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Matt B - Deale, MD - Karma: Good