PPRuNe Forums - Incident in Mesa

Falcon Field helicopter crash kills pilot

By Kristina Davis, Tribune

A Chandler helicopter pilot died in a fiery crash Thursday night at Falcon Field Municipal Airport in Mesa.
"Witnesses acted very quickly to try and help rescue the pilot from the situation," said Mesa deputy fire chief Mary Cameli.

"They were very brave to approach the helicopter and use a fire extinguisher to try to put the fire out. Unfortunately, they couldn’t save him."

The man, in his 40s, was killed instantly, officials said. His identity was not released. No one else was in the private Bell 206 helicopter.

The crash was about 9:10 p.m. — 10 minutes after the control tower closed — as officials said the pilot was trying to land on a flat-bed trailer. It crashed about 200 yards west of the tower, coming to rest on its side at the airport at McKellips and Greenfield roads.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation and Safety Board will investigate.