Key Takeaways:
- Two pilots, Michael Greenberg and Kenneth L. Kirsch, were killed in a midair helicopter collision in Hammonton, New Jersey.
- The collision occurred around 11:25 a.m. near the intersection of Route 30 and Basin Road, about a mile from the Hammonton Municipal Airport.
- The helicopters were flying close together after departing from the airport, where the pilots had stopped for breakfast.
- Witnesses reported seeing the helicopters flying unusually close before the collision, with one bursting into flames after crashing.
- The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident, with a preliminary report expected within 30 days.
Introduction to the Incident
The town of Hammonton, New Jersey, witnessed a tragic incident on Sunday when two helicopters collided in midair, resulting in the deaths of two pilots. Michael Greenberg, 71, of Sewell, N.J., and Kenneth L. Kirsch, 65, of Carneys Point, N.J., were pronounced dead after the crash. The incident occurred around 11:25 a.m. near the intersection of Route 30 and Basin Road, about a mile from the Hammonton Municipal Airport. The helicopters, an Enstrom F-28A piloted by Kirsch and an Enstrom 280C piloted by Greenberg, went down in a nearby field, with one bursting into flames.
Eyewitness Accounts
Witnesses across the area described seeing the helicopters flying unusually close before the collision. Diana Cleuff of Shamong, New Jersey, reported seeing the helicopters flying lower than usual and too close together. She recalled saying to herself, "My God, I hope they are just flying too close, I hope they don’t clip each other," just before the impact occurred. Cleuff watched in horror as one helicopter crashed and the other appeared to struggle in the air. Another witness, Caitlyn Collins, who lives in Hammonton, heard the aircraft moments before the crash and rushed to the scene with her husband and a neighbor who is an off-duty Hammonton police officer.
Response and Investigation
Chief Kevin Friel of the Hammonton Police Department reported that early indications suggest the aircraft were flying in tandem, which likely caused the collision. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident, with the NTSB leading the investigation. The investigation will examine the pilots, the aircraft, and the operating environment. According to FAA records, one helicopter is registered to a charter company in Lancaster, Pa., while the other is privately owned out of Carneys Point, N.J. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, and a final report, including a probable cause, could take up to two years.
Aftermath and Reaction
The crash site was described as a field with no industrial or commercial buildings or populated areas nearby, which could have made the incident even more disastrous. Chief Friel noted that it "could have gone a lot worse, and there could have been a lot more loss of life." The owner of the Apron Cafe, where the pilots had stopped for breakfast, remembered them as regular customers and described them as "very nice people." The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with many expressing their condolences to the families of the deceased pilots.
Conclusion and Future Steps
The midair collision of the two helicopters in Hammonton, New Jersey, is a tragic reminder of the risks involved in aviation. The investigation into the incident will hopefully provide answers to the questions surrounding the collision and help prevent similar incidents in the future. As the community comes to terms with the loss of two lives, it is essential to acknowledge the bravery and selflessness of the pilots and the emergency responders who rushed to the scene. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safety protocols and regulations in the aviation industry, and the need for continued vigilance and improvement to prevent such tragedies from occurring.