Time Out
28th Sep 2004, 14:36
Pilot Survives Las Cruces Helicopter Crash
A Southwest Med Evac helicopter crashes at Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces overnight.
Now the pilot is recovering, and an investigation into what caused the crash is underway.
The crash happened at around 11:30 Monday night.
The helicopter somehow ended up lying on its side, badly damaged from front to back.
The pilot escaped from the aircraft through the door.
A Southwest Med Evac helicopter pilot was transporting a patient and medical crew to Memorial Medical Center.
Soon after, the pilot headed to re-fuel the helicopter, when it crashed right on the heli-pad.
When fire crews arrived, the helicopter was on its side.
Miraculously, the pilot suffered only minor injuries.
Randall Hopper from Southwest Med Evac says, "The pilot is being checked out in the ER. Right now it looks like he just has a sore and bruised shoulder from the shoulder harnesses."
He also tells KFOX they do have a back-up helicopter in case any transports need to be made to Memorial Medical Center.
While the helicopter remains on the heli-pad, those transports will go to Mountview Regional Medical Center - then be transported by ground to Memorial Medical Center. source (http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/3765663/detail.html)
A Southwest Med Evac helicopter crashes at Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces overnight.
Now the pilot is recovering, and an investigation into what caused the crash is underway.
The crash happened at around 11:30 Monday night.
The helicopter somehow ended up lying on its side, badly damaged from front to back.
The pilot escaped from the aircraft through the door.
A Southwest Med Evac helicopter pilot was transporting a patient and medical crew to Memorial Medical Center.
Soon after, the pilot headed to re-fuel the helicopter, when it crashed right on the heli-pad.
When fire crews arrived, the helicopter was on its side.
Miraculously, the pilot suffered only minor injuries.
Randall Hopper from Southwest Med Evac says, "The pilot is being checked out in the ER. Right now it looks like he just has a sore and bruised shoulder from the shoulder harnesses."
He also tells KFOX they do have a back-up helicopter in case any transports need to be made to Memorial Medical Center.
While the helicopter remains on the heli-pad, those transports will go to Mountview Regional Medical Center - then be transported by ground to Memorial Medical Center. source (http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/3765663/detail.html)