Preliminary Report Reveals Details of Fatal SF Medical Helicopter Crash
Sept. 04--A SANTA FE -- based medical helicopter that crashed in July in central New Mexico killing all three on board ended up 150 above the surrounding terrain after it collided with a mesa, said a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board.
According to the report, the Tristate Careflight Augusta A109E helicopter took off from the Santa Fe Municipal Airport just before 1 a.m. on July 17 and crashed into a mesa at about 1:45 a.m. on a ranch near Newkirk, New Mexico. An alert notice had been issued for the helicopter when it did not arrive at the hospital in Tucumcari and a local resident found it.
Killed were pilot David Cavigneaux, 46, of Rio Rancho; flight nurse and paramedic Rebecca Serkey, 29. of Rio Rancho and base manager James Butler, 46, of Albuquerque. A fire after impact destroyed much of the helicopter.
"Visual meteorological conditions existed for the helicopter's departure and a company visual flight rules flight plan was filed," said the report. "The helicopter wreckage came to rest on the north side of a mesa about 150 feet above the surrounding terrain ... All main airframe and engine components were accounted for at the accident site. The helicopter was retained for further examination."
"At 0153, an automated weather reporting facility at the Tucumcari Municipal Airport ... located 37 miles east of the accident site, reported wind from 050 degrees at 15 knots, 10 miles visibility, ceiling overcast at 1,400 feet, temperature 66 F, dew point 57 F, and a barometric pressure of 29.84 inches of mercury," said the report.
The NTSB's final probable cause of the accident can take months to complete.
Copyright 2014 - Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
