North Carolina:2 Killed When State Chopper Crashes at Blue Ridge Overlook

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Sep 8, 2000 - 04:09 PM

2 Killed When State Chopper Crashes at Blue Ridge Overlook

The Associated Press

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. (AP) - A state forest service helicopter traveling to a children's field day crashed at a Blue Ridge Parkway overlook, killing the two crew members on impact, the agency said Friday.

The Huey UH-1H had been missing for more than 24 hours and last was heard from about 10:30 a.m. Thursday when the pilot radioed that he was flying in thick fog and needed to land.

The chopper crashed near the Waynesville Overlook, about 150 miles west of Charlotte, said Robin Carter, spokeswoman for the state Division of Forest Resources.

Ground searchers scaled steep slopes to reach the wreckage, Carter said. "It's straight up and down," she said.

The crewmen were identified as pilot Tim Newman of Franklin and crew chief Mike Fossett of Fayetteville.

Their ages weren't immediately available, Carter said.

The aircraft was flying from Macon County to Haywood County, where it was to be displayed at a field day for about 600 schoolchildren.

The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGIBEMFAWCC.html

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), September 08, 2000


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