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Investigators on scene of plane, helicopter crash in Frederick Federal investigators at scene of plane, helicopter collision that killed 3 in Frederick
(about 3 hours later)
Federal investigators were in Frederick County on Friday morning to investigate a crash involving a helicopter and a plane that killed three people Thursday afternoon. Federal investigators were in Frederick County on Friday to investigate a collision involving a helicopter and a plane that killed three people Thursday afternoon.
National Transportation Safety Board officials are expected to spend the day at the crash site near Frederick Municipal Airport as they sift through the wreckage to try to figure out what happened. National Transportation Safety Board officials are expected to spend the day at the crash site near Frederick Municipal Airport as they sift through the wreckage and interview survivors and air traffic controllers to try to determine what happened.
The crash involved a helicopter owned by Advanced Helicopter Concepts of Frederick, which routinely trains pilots at the Frederick airport. The helicopter was on a training exercise when it collided about 3:40 p.m. Thursday with a private plane in midair.The crash involved a helicopter owned by Advanced Helicopter Concepts of Frederick, which routinely trains pilots at the Frederick airport. The helicopter was on a training exercise when it collided about 3:40 p.m. Thursday with a private plane in midair.
At an afternoon news conference, NTSB investigator Brian Rayner said he did not know of any mechanical problem that either aircraft was experiencing at the time of the collision.
The three who died were identified as William Jenkins, 47, of Morrison, Colo.; Breandan J. MacFawn, 35, of Cumberland, Md.; and Christopher D. Parsons, 29, of Westminster, Md. All were on board the helicopter, according to investigators and an Advanced employee.The three who died were identified as William Jenkins, 47, of Morrison, Colo.; Breandan J. MacFawn, 35, of Cumberland, Md.; and Christopher D. Parsons, 29, of Westminster, Md. All were on board the helicopter, according to investigators and an Advanced employee.
Parsons was a flight instructor employed by Advanced, according to Chris Hollingshead, another pilot for the company. Hollingshead said that Parsons was taking Jenkins on a test flight Thursday when they crashed. Jenkins had rented other aircraft from Advanced in the past but had never piloted one of Advanced’s Robinson R44 helicopters.Parsons was a flight instructor employed by Advanced, according to Chris Hollingshead, another pilot for the company. Hollingshead said that Parsons was taking Jenkins on a test flight Thursday when they crashed. Jenkins had rented other aircraft from Advanced in the past but had never piloted one of Advanced’s Robinson R44 helicopters.
The company requires pilots to take a test flight with an instructor, about half an hour long on a prescribed course around the airport, before renting a new type of aircraft, Hollingshead said. He said that Jenkins likely would have been at the controls, with Parsons’ supervision, at the time of the collision. The company requires pilots to take a test flight with an instructor, about half an hour long, on a prescribed course around the airport, before renting a new type of aircraft, Hollingshead said. He said that Jenkins likely would have been at the controls, with Parsons’s supervision, at the time of the collision.
Hollingshead said that MacFawn was a passenger on the flight. He was not employed by Advanced, and Hollingshead did not know whether he had ever been on an Advanced aircraft before.Hollingshead said that MacFawn was a passenger on the flight. He was not employed by Advanced, and Hollingshead did not know whether he had ever been on an Advanced aircraft before.
Two Maryland men suffered minor injuries in the crash and were released from Meritus Health in Hagerstown, Md., State Police said Thursday night. State police spokesman Greg Shipley said both men had been on the plane. They were identified as Gilbert Porter, 75, of Sandy Spring and Scott V. Graeves, 55, of Brookeville. Two Maryland men suffered minor injuries in the crash and were released from Meritus Health in Hagerstown, Md., State Police said Thursday night. State police spokesman Greg Shipley said both men had been in the plane. They were identified as Gilbert Porter, 75, of Sandy Spring and Scott V. Graeves, 55, of Brookeville.
Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown said the plane was a 2006 Cirrus SR22, which is a four-seat plane equipped with a parachute that can be deployed for landing.Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown said the plane was a 2006 Cirrus SR22, which is a four-seat plane equipped with a parachute that can be deployed for landing.
Records indicate that the plane, which is registered in Olney, Md., was flying to the Frederick airport from Cleveland, Tenn. Three helicopters were in the air as the plane approached.Records indicate that the plane, which is registered in Olney, Md., was flying to the Frederick airport from Cleveland, Tenn. Three helicopters were in the air as the plane approached.
Porter said late Thursday night that he and Graeves had clearance to land and were in their pattern to descend when suddenly they felt the collision. In a matter of seconds, both Porter and the pilot knew they were going to crash.Porter said late Thursday night that he and Graeves had clearance to land and were in their pattern to descend when suddenly they felt the collision. In a matter of seconds, both Porter and the pilot knew they were going to crash.
“We were heading toward the ground at 60 miles per hour. I mean, it was scary as hell,” Porter said in a telephone interview.“We were heading toward the ground at 60 miles per hour. I mean, it was scary as hell,” Porter said in a telephone interview.
Porter and Graeves were returning to Maryland from a day-long trip to Tennessee, where Porter travelled to visit some cutting horses he owns, he said. The pair left Maryland about 7 a.m. for Tennessee and then returned in the afternoon. Porter said they had no trouble until they were nearly home.Porter and Graeves were returning to Maryland from a day-long trip to Tennessee, where Porter travelled to visit some cutting horses he owns, he said. The pair left Maryland about 7 a.m. for Tennessee and then returned in the afternoon. Porter said they had no trouble until they were nearly home.
“I’m very lucky to be alive,” Porter said. “What saved our lives was that parachute.”“I’m very lucky to be alive,” Porter said. “What saved our lives was that parachute.”
After the aircraft hit, Graeves deployed the parachute, which slowed the plane until it careened into a small tree, which further broke the plane’s momentum. The plane then crashed to the ground, but the men were still in danger.After the aircraft hit, Graeves deployed the parachute, which slowed the plane until it careened into a small tree, which further broke the plane’s momentum. The plane then crashed to the ground, but the men were still in danger.
“It was a little scary because the wing tore open, and the fuel was everywhere,” Porter said. Someone on the ground said, ‘Don’t anybody smoke.’” “It was a little scary because the wing tore open, and the fuel was everywhere,” Porter said. Someone on the ground said, ‘Don’t anybody smoke.’ ”
Porter said he suffered minor cuts to his face and bruising to his chest and an arm.Porter said he suffered minor cuts to his face and bruising to his chest and an arm.
Minutes before the crash, Jesse Ault had picked up his wife, Pamela Slifer, at her office, which is adjacent to the airfield. As they sat in a fast-food drive-through, Slifer turned to her husband and said, “Oh, my God!”Minutes before the crash, Jesse Ault had picked up his wife, Pamela Slifer, at her office, which is adjacent to the airfield. As they sat in a fast-food drive-through, Slifer turned to her husband and said, “Oh, my God!”
“My wife and I saw the plane spinning out of control as it came down,” Ault said in a phone interview Thursday. “It just happened so quick. The plane crashed right at the corner of her building. It was pretty crazy.”“My wife and I saw the plane spinning out of control as it came down,” Ault said in a phone interview Thursday. “It just happened so quick. The plane crashed right at the corner of her building. It was pretty crazy.”
Ault drove across a grassy area, near the trees where the plane had settled, and he Slifer looked around to see if they could help. By the time they arrived, other witnesses had helped remove a man — believed to be the pilot — from the plane, Ault said.Ault drove across a grassy area, near the trees where the plane had settled, and he Slifer looked around to see if they could help. By the time they arrived, other witnesses had helped remove a man — believed to be the pilot — from the plane, Ault said.
Shipley said state police did not know the cause of the crash. Investigators found a parachute on the ground that may have been attached to the plane.Shipley said state police did not know the cause of the crash. Investigators found a parachute on the ground that may have been attached to the plane.
NTSB investigator Brian Rayner said he did not know whether the parachute on the plane was what saved Porter and Graeves. Rayner, the NTSB investigator, said he did not know whether the parachute on the plane was what saved Porter and Graeves.
The helicopter crashed into a storage facility near the county fairgrounds, about a tenth of a mile from where the plane went down, Shipley said. Rayner said the helicopter was “destroyed.”The helicopter crashed into a storage facility near the county fairgrounds, about a tenth of a mile from where the plane went down, Shipley said. Rayner said the helicopter was “destroyed.”
Hollingshead said that the helicopter company has voluntarily suspended all operations while it aids the NTSB’s investigation. He said the company’s 10 aircraft normally make 30 to 40 flights per day and that having two or three helicopters in the air while planes are also using the airport is standard. Three helicopters were flying at the time of Thursday’s crash.Hollingshead said that the helicopter company has voluntarily suspended all operations while it aids the NTSB’s investigation. He said the company’s 10 aircraft normally make 30 to 40 flights per day and that having two or three helicopters in the air while planes are also using the airport is standard. Three helicopters were flying at the time of Thursday’s crash.
An air traffic controller was speaking to the plane’s pilot from the control tower at the Frederick airport just before the crash.An air traffic controller was speaking to the plane’s pilot from the control tower at the Frederick airport just before the crash.
It is routine for planes to fly a U-shaped approach, heading downwind and then turning upwind for the final approach and landing. With a strong wind coming from the north Thursday, that meant flying south parallel to the runway and then turning north to land.It is routine for planes to fly a U-shaped approach, heading downwind and then turning upwind for the final approach and landing. With a strong wind coming from the north Thursday, that meant flying south parallel to the runway and then turning north to land.
In an audio recording, the controller can be heard telling the plane’s pilot, “I have three helicopters below you in the traffic pattern.”In an audio recording, the controller can be heard telling the plane’s pilot, “I have three helicopters below you in the traffic pattern.”
“I’ve got two of them in sight,” the pilot responded.“I’ve got two of them in sight,” the pilot responded.
Just after the controller said, “Clear to land,” a panicked voice can be heard on the recording saying, “Oh, God! Oh, God!”Just after the controller said, “Clear to land,” a panicked voice can be heard on the recording saying, “Oh, God! Oh, God!”
Immediately, a voice from one of the unaffected helicopters can be heard: “Airplane down! Helicopter down!”Immediately, a voice from one of the unaffected helicopters can be heard: “Airplane down! Helicopter down!”
Hollingshead said the helicopter was at altitude, neither taking off nor landing. Rayner said that the positions and altitudes of the two aircraft remained unclear as investigators gathered large amounts of data Friday.
The collision occurred near Frederick Community College’s Monroe Center, prompting the school to cancel all classes and activities Thursday evening at that facility. The main campus of the college is a few miles northwest, near Fort Detrick.The collision occurred near Frederick Community College’s Monroe Center, prompting the school to cancel all classes and activities Thursday evening at that facility. The main campus of the college is a few miles northwest, near Fort Detrick.
Bill King, a spokesman for Cirrus, said Thursday that an accident-response team from the manufacturer was headed to the site, where it will work with the NTSB to investigate the cause of the crash.Bill King, a spokesman for Cirrus, said Thursday that an accident-response team from the manufacturer was headed to the site, where it will work with the NTSB to investigate the cause of the crash.
“We’ve got a fair amount of information already,” King said. “In the final analysis, that doesn’t change what happened for several families today. A bunch of people’s lives changed dramatically today.”“We’ve got a fair amount of information already,” King said. “In the final analysis, that doesn’t change what happened for several families today. A bunch of people’s lives changed dramatically today.”
Dana Hedgpeth, Ashley Halsey III and Nick Anderson contributed to this report. Dana Hedgpeth, Mike Rosenwald, Ashley Halsey III and Nick Anderson contributed to this report.