Dayhoff Westminster Soundtrack: 4 in Md. chopper crash had been at charity event By DAVID DISHNEAU

Friday, July 24, 2009

4 in Md. chopper crash had been at charity event By DAVID DISHNEAU

4 in Md. chopper crash had been at charity event By DAVID DISHNEAU

http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/md-helicopter-crash-kills-3-flight-school-workers-99402.html

The Associated Press 11:56 a.m. Friday, July 24, 2009

HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Four people killed when their helicopter crashed on a Maryland highway were returning from an event where they had given helicopter rides to raise money for troubled youth, authorities said Friday.

The helicopter left Hagerstown about two hours after the event ended Thursday night, said Kitty Higgins, a National Transportation Safety Board member. The pilot waited to return to Frederick because of weather. Higgins said the pilot had about 630 hours of flight experience logged.

The pilot and two of the people on board were employees of Frederick, Md.-based Advanced Helicopter Concepts. The fourth person was a friend of theirs, Higgins said. The cause is still unknown.

Witnesses reported seeing the craft flying low when it hit power lines over the interstate, then saw sparks fly before the helicopter went down and burst into flames, Higgins said.

The aircraft was engulfed when firefighters arrived at the scene minutes after receiving a call at 10:30 p.m. Thursday, said Washington County emergency services director Kevin Lewis. No vehicles on the highway were hit when the helicopter smashed into the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70. There were no injuries on the ground.

Read the entire column here: 4 in Md. chopper crash had been at charity event By DAVID DISHNEAU

http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/md-helicopter-crash-kills-3-flight-school-workers-99402.html

The Associated Press 11:56 a.m. Friday, July 24, 2009

20090724 AP 4 in Md chopper crash had been at charity event

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