On Wednesday, October 20, 2004, an AIR Heart (Santa Rosa Beach, FL) helicopter crashed into Choctawhatchee Bay with three crew members. Pilot Tom Palcic and Flight Nurse Jack Chase were killed and Flight Paramedic Robert Heighton has not yet been found.

This website has been temporarily blacked out in tribute to our lost colleagues. Use the 'Full Story' link for more information and news articles about the incident. Memorial service information has been added.

Please add your message of support to the family and crew members in the Condolence Book

Updated: 10/23/04 11:30 AM

Most recent articles

• Services Planned for AirHeart Crew - Sacred Heart Press Release
• AirHeart Resumes Flight Operations - Sacred Heart Press Release
• Body Of Third Crewmember Recovered- WEAR TV
• Third Body Found from AirHeart Helicopter Crash - Sacred Heart Press Release

• Panhandle air ambulance service resumes after crash - AL.com
• Missing Body Recovered - WJHG TV
• Third copter crash victim found - Pensacola News Journal

• Three victims identified in Panhandle helicopter ambulance crash - Pensacola News Journal

• Area Medical Helicopter Crashes in Choctawhatchee Bay - WJHG TV
• Three victims identified in Panhandle helicopter ambulance crash - Herald Tribune
• Copter Crash Kills 2 - Pensacola News
• FAA Preliminary Report
• Sacred Heart Health System - Press Release

• AirHeart1 lost in early morning crash - Walton Sun
• Two killed, one missing in Sacred Heart helicopter crash - Destin Log
• Air Ambulance Crash Kills 3 in Florida - Tuscaloosa News
• Area Medical Helicopter Crashes in Choctawhatchee Bay - WJHG TV
• Two killed in Florida hospital copter crash - CNN.com
• Panhandle helicopter ambulance crashes into bay; 3 believed dead - Pensacola News Journal

Memorial Service Information

Funeral services for Tom Palcic, AirHeart pilot and an employee of Metro Aviation, will be held Tuesday, Oct. 26, from 6 to 7 p.m. at Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 N.E. Racetrack Road in Fort Walton Beach. Visitation will be from 5-6 p.m. at the funeral home.

Services for Jack Chase, RN, AirHeart Flight Nurse - Visitation will be held Saturday, October 23, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Clary-Glenn Freeport Chapel Funeral Home, 150 East Highway 20, Freeport, Florida. Funeral services for Jack will be held Sunday, October 24, at 4 p.m. at Village Baptist Church 101 Matthew Boulevard, Destin. Floral arrangements are being accepted, or donations in Jack's memory may be sent to the ALS Foundation, ALS Association, Florida Chapter, 5005 W. Laurel Street, Suite 110, Tampa, FL 33607

Information regarding services for Flight Paramedic Robert Heighton will be posted when it becomes available.