Oz pilot killed in Oregon
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 5,197
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From: UK
Oz pilot killed in Oregon
KGW News report
A sad loss.
Our sympathies to his family and friends.
Helicopter pilot dies in crash in Glendale area
GLENDALE, Oregon.
GLENDALE, Oregon.
A helicopter crash in remote timber land of Douglas County in southern Oregon killed an Australian pilot on Wednesday morning.
James Ladd, 41, of Erowal Bay, New South Wales, Australia, was the only occupant in a logging helicopter owned by Superior Logging of Grants Pass. The crash occurred about 14 miles northwest of Glendale. Glendale is north of Grants Pass.
Ladd was flying a Kaman Kmax K-1200 helicopter about 8 a.m. The helicopter was removing from the Bear Pen timber sale on Bureau of Land Management Land when its rotor blades struck a tree. The chopper then struck the trees and went down a deep slope, eyewitnesses said.
Ladd had been flying for Superior for about a year. The helicopter that Ladd was flying was one of five choppers used by Superior for wildland firefighting, construction lifting and helicopter logging.
“Jim Ladd was really a fine human being as well as a very good pilot,” said Andy Mills, assistant general manager for Superior. “Our staff is filled with sadness and shock right now, and we are doing everything we can for the family.”
Ladd, an experienced pilot, had logged more than 9,700 flight hours in helicopters. He leaves behind a wife and a 6-year-old daughter.
James Ladd, 41, of Erowal Bay, New South Wales, Australia, was the only occupant in a logging helicopter owned by Superior Logging of Grants Pass. The crash occurred about 14 miles northwest of Glendale. Glendale is north of Grants Pass.
Ladd was flying a Kaman Kmax K-1200 helicopter about 8 a.m. The helicopter was removing from the Bear Pen timber sale on Bureau of Land Management Land when its rotor blades struck a tree. The chopper then struck the trees and went down a deep slope, eyewitnesses said.
Ladd had been flying for Superior for about a year. The helicopter that Ladd was flying was one of five choppers used by Superior for wildland firefighting, construction lifting and helicopter logging.
“Jim Ladd was really a fine human being as well as a very good pilot,” said Andy Mills, assistant general manager for Superior. “Our staff is filled with sadness and shock right now, and we are doing everything we can for the family.”
Ladd, an experienced pilot, had logged more than 9,700 flight hours in helicopters. He leaves behind a wife and a 6-year-old daughter.
Our sympathies to his family and friends.
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9
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From: QLD,Aust.
Jim Ladd
I have known and worked alongside Jim for 10 + years and I found him a great bloke to be with both socially and profesional.I've worked with Jim in some of the most remote and lonely parts of the globe and found his sense of humor and low stress approach to life and work a refreshing change from a lot of other pilots I've come across.As a pilot of similar experence and vintage I was saddened to hear of his accident and would like to relay my sympathy to Sheeree and his 6 year old princess.
He spoke of his Girls and home all the time.
Haven't seen Jim since the fires in Jindabine the season before last but will never forget some of the nites we had at the local watering hole togeather and while they were great nites then they are now special.
Will miss your humor on the fire ground.
GPS, Qld , Australia.
He spoke of his Girls and home all the time.
Haven't seen Jim since the fires in Jindabine the season before last but will never forget some of the nites we had at the local watering hole togeather and while they were great nites then they are now special.
Will miss your humor on the fire ground.
GPS, Qld , Australia.
Gatvol
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,197
Likes: 1
From: KLAS/TIST/FAJS/KFAI
Sad to lose another driver. I logged that area on the ground many years ago and its very unforgiving. In some places steep terrain and average 200' trees. Not much room to go if you have a problem.
