Four dead after medical helicopter crash Texas (PHI)

[spenac]

http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/kho...h.109dbd5d.html

Four dead after medical helicopter crash

10:01 AM CDT on Sunday, June 8, 2008

KHOU.com staff report

HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- Four people were killed early Sunday morning when an air ambulance crashed in the Sam Houston National Forest in Walker County. Federal Aviation Administration investigators told 11 News that a PHI Medical transport helicopter went down in the forest near Huntsville about 2:45 a.m.

The FAA said the helicopter was enroute to the Texas Medical Center from a hospital in Huntsville when it crashed. There is no confirmation if the four people aboard were all crew or if anyone was a medical patient.

PHI confirmed that one of their choppers had crashed, but had no further comment.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the fatal crash. The investigation has been hampered because of the heavy wooded conditions of the national forest

[itku2er]

[chbare]

Condolence book on Flightweb. Thoughts and prayers go out to friends and families.

http://www.flightweb.com/condolences/index.php?cid=38

Take care,

chbare.

[rat115]

Prayers and condolences for family, friends and cowokers.

[spenac]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5825973.html

June 8, 2008, 3:37PM

4 dead in Huntsville helicopter crash

© 2008 The Associated Press

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HUNTSVILLE, Texas — Four people were killed when a medical helicopter transporting a patient crashed Sunday in the Sam Houston National Forest, authorities said.

The cause of the crash was still under investigation, and officials said rescued crews struggled to find the wreckage in the densely wooded rural area.

The PHI Air Medical helicopter was headed from a Huntsville hospital to another in Houston when a missed check-in with dispatch raised concern, company spokesman Jonathan Collier said. The aircraft was found about 10 miles from where it had taken off, he said.

"This is a devastating loss," Collier said.

Killed were flight nurse Jana Bishop, pilot Wayne Kirby and flight paramedic Stephanie Waters, all PHI employees. The name of the patient on board was not immediately released.

Ronald Herwig, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said the crash happened about 2:45 a.m. He said federal safety investigators were headed to the crash site, located about 70 miles north of Houston.

Collier said the crew on board was "experienced" but did not immediately have more details about their background.

Collier said all the company's helicopters are equipped with GPS locators that keep track of the aircraft. He said rescue teams began looking for the crash site based on the last coordinates logged.

The Sam Houston National Forest, one of four national forests in Texas, covers more than 163,000 acres.

[Sheambo]

It matters not that this tragic event happened in a country other than my own, the impact of the loss of all onboard, to our profession, is just as profound.

RIP PHI Air Med 12

[unknown]

Stephanie King Waters formerly employed by Air Evac Lifeteam, Stationed out of AE 47 LaGrange Tx, will be missed by many as will her fellow PHI crew members. My condolences and heart felt prayers to all family and close friends.

[Flasurfbum]

My condolences to the families, friends, and co workers of our deceased Brother and Sisters.