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Editor: James T. Crouse
Profession: Aviation Accident Attorney

Category: Helicopter Crashes

On Tuesday, February 5, a medical helicopter carrying two medics and the pilot en route to the Port Isabel Convention Center for a medical evacuation, crashed into the Laguna Madre killing all three on board. The chopper, part of the Valley AirCare emergency service, was on the 30 mile trip from Harlington when it aborted the landing on South Padre Island - possibly due the bad weather - and was returning to Harlington when it crashed.

The bodies of the paramedic and the flight nurse were found Tuesday night and the body of the pilot was found still strapped inside the wreckage on Wednesday morning. All three have been identified.

Almost 10 years ago another Valley AirCare helicopter crashed on the was to rescue a truck driver after his tractor-trailer overturned. All three on board were killed in that crash which destroyed all the aircrafts parts including the black box. After more than a year, investigators determined the cause was the pilot had continued flying despite bad weather conditions and low visibility.

The NTSB is in charge of the investigation and a memorial fund has been established for the families of the three men who lost their lives