Dana Dedman
Ric Miller
Ronnie Helton
PRESS RELEASE
October 7, 2007; BLANDING, UTAH – Additional information regarding the October 4, 2007 Eagle Air Med accident involving N590GM and its crew is now available along with photographs of the crew.
Pilot, Ric Miller was from Wenatchee, Washington. He was 46 years old and was a full time pilot. Ric had never had an accident, incident, or a violation in his 22 years of flying experience. He completed additional simulator training in August of 2007. He held helicopter and fixed wing pilot certificates and was Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) rated. Ric had over 12,000 hours of logged flight time as Pilot In Command (PIC), 2,400 hours of which was with the US Marine Corps reserve.
Flight Nurse Ronnie Helton was from Birmingham AL. He was 25 years old and was also a full time employee with Eagle Air Med. Ronnie had been an intensive care nurse for 3 years.
Flight Paramedic Dana Dedman was from Chinle, Arizona. He was 32 years old and was a full time employee. He had been employed with Eagle Air Med for more than two years. Dana had been a critical care paramedic for 4 years.
At 10pm, October 4, 2007, Eagle Air Med received a patient transport request. The crew departed Chinle, AZ at 10:35 pm heading to Alamosa, CO to pick up a patient. The pilot performed a routine contact with the Communications Center via satellite at 10:55 pm and relayed an estimated arrival time in Alamosa of 11:30 pm. At 11:45 pm, the Communications Center initiated emergency procedures to locate the aircraft. Numerous attempts were made to contact the aircraft. Ramp checks were performed at many airports along the flight path. Eagle Air Med administrators were notified of the missing aircraft and the Director of Operations contacted the FAA, NTSB, and Search and Rescue. The company suspended all flight activities for safety purposes until further notice.
At this time, it is unknown if weather was a factor in the accident. A VFR flight plan was filed with the Communications Center. All Eagle Air Med pilots receive detailed training upon initial hire and annually on weather flying, local terrain, and aeronautical decision making. Pilots also attend annual simulator training, and they receive check-rides from an FAA Approved Check Airman every six months. Each morning, weather is evaluated by all crews through briefings and the pilots evaluate weather immediately prior to each flight.
At this time, it is also unknown if there was a mechanical problem. There were no contacts or signs of distress from the pilot to the Communications Center. The contact with the Communications Center was via satellite at 10:55 pm.
Prior to this accident, Eagle Air Med has never experienced a fatal accident in its history of providing air medical services.
The NTSB is beginning an investigation on Monday, October 8. Recovery efforts from local agencies, including the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office, took place Saturday and Sunday. The remains were moved to Alamosa, CO then to Durango, CO for autopsies. All families have been notified. Funeral arrangements and memorial service schedules are being coordinated at this time. A Critical Stress Debriefing with other Eagle Air Med crews was held Saturday.
Air medical services will resume when pilots, medical crews and others are prepared to return to service. Director of Operations will perform a proficiency check, a debriefing and further evaluations with all pilot personnel prior to them returning to service. Some air medical services may resume Monday, October 8.
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Dana Dedman |
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Ric Miller |
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Ronnie Helton |
http://www.flightweb.com/article.php?story=20071008085939196