US EMS Helicopter Down

[Boudreaux Bob]

A Santa Fe, NM based EMS helicopter crashed at 0238 hours killing all three crew members near Newkirk, NM.

No other details known.


Medical helicopter based in Santa Fe crashes, killing crew of 3 - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Local News (http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/medical-helicopter-based-in-santa-fe-crashes-killing-crew-of/article_7ed63a2c-d34a-5dfc-b0cb-d12f6670db02.html)

Many photos of the scene.

http://www.koat.com/news/fatal-helicopter-crash-reported-in-eastern-new-mexico/26996496#!bhaUrG

[HeliHenri]

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AW109

17-Jul-14 AgustaWestland AW109E Newkirk, US-New Mexico (3F) | Helihub - the Helicopter Industry Data Source (http://helihub.com/2014/07/17/17-jul-14-agustawestland-aw109e-newkirk-us-new-mexico-3f/)

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[skadi]

Looks like another SP NVFR CFIT... :confused:

skadi

[army_av8r]

Does anyone know if goggles are used at this location? the area that the crash took place is very flat for quite a long time with few ground lights, and then rises rapidly about 800 feet if your flying east toward tucumcari.

[HeliHenri]

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From their website :

" The crew is equipped with the newest technology in night vision goggles. Night Vision Goggles or NVG’s amplify ambient light more than , to make the darkest night become day. "

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[tottigol]

What was the WX like enroute at about that time?

[Boudreaux Bob]

The crew names have been released.

The Pilot immigrated to the United States from France.

Medical helicopter crash victims identified | Albuquerque Journal News (http://www.abqjournal.com/431560/abqnewsseeker/medical-helicopter-crash-victims-identified.html)

[Devil 49]

Most likely very, very dark in the area west of the nearby destination town. Average resident density in the two neighboring counties around the site is 4 and 6 per mile. Google Earth is essentially desert scrub.

SPECI KTCC 170617Z AUTO 03014KT 10SM BKN015 20/16 A3000 RMK AO2 T02000156
SPECI KTCC 170629Z AUTO 03017KT 10SM OVC014 19/14 A3000 RMK AO2 T01940144
METAR KTCC 170653Z AUTO 03017KT 10SM OVC014 19/15 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP098 T01940150 403330183

(estimated time of accident)

SPECI KTCC 170735Z AUTO 05018KT 10SM OVC015 19/13 A3003 RMK AO2 T01890133
METAR KTCC 170753Z AUTO 05015KT 10SM OVC014 19/14 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP104 T01890139
METAR KTCC 170853Z AUTO 02015KT 10SM OVC013 19/15 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP111 T01890150 53020
SPECI KTCC 170943Z AUTO 02015G24KT 4SM -RA BR OVC015 18/16 A3005 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT N RAB05 P0004 T01780156
METAR KTCC 170953Z AUTO 04014KT 5SM -RA BR BKN014 OVC023 18/16 A3005 RMK AO2 RAB05 SLP108 P0004 T01780161
SPECI KTCC 171011Z AUTO 04015KT 10SM -RA SCT014 SCT024 OVC036 18/16 A3003 RMK AO2 P0000 T01780156

I can't find a radar loop, so I don't have any information to show that rain later in the evening was an issue on the leg tracked.

[Boudreaux Bob]

I wonder what the route of flight was?

Direct or follow the Interstate Highways (Motorways)?

Mind you at that time of the night there would have been mostly large truck traffic but not necessarily a continuous line of them.