REACH Medical Helicopter - Downed by Fog

Two vehicle MVA at 65th Expressway and Elder Creek Rd. January 9, 1999. REACH Helicopter lands to pick-up critical patient, but must return to the ground due to incoming fog. REACH, Engine 10, Medic 10, Truck 6 Extrication, Medic 56, Rescue 6. Sac PD.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• REACH
• Medical
• Helicopter
• MVA
• TC
• Chopper
• Response
• Sacramento
• Fire
• Dept
• Engine
• 10
• Medic
• Truck
• 56
• American
• River
• Niko
• King
• Sgt.
• Mulligan
• SAM-3

[FileVideoLog]

You would have to ask a pilot? But I believe landing at the hospital safely was also a concern.

[MrRAD7700]

No way

[Thenews72]

@tubesteakdynamo No my dad was a firefighter that responded to that call "helicopter down"

[tubesteakdynamo]

Are you saying Art was your dad? Or, your dad was in this vid? Diane was my instructor. I was just a snot-nosed intern way back when. F'n Art man, every time he saw me he'd say "I thought you quit?". I'm still messed up(Mentally) from the war but I want to return to some kind of service. Going through my Medic re-certs at Petaluma next semester (hopefully).

[Thenews72]

@tubesteakdynamo my dad went on that call

[robbyroo3472]

I apologize for the wording of my comment but my comment was based on how you worded yours.

I remember that crash because I remember how they talked about how may accident-free missions REACH had flown before this tragedy.

[tubesteakdynamo]

Low quality vid, couldn't read numbers. Your anal retentive attention to letters and numbers doesn't change that fact my friend and mentor is gone.

I left CDF Air Attack to go to Afghanistan in 02. I was away when it happened. I remember Sacto used that wide blade 206 I swear i just saw buzzing around Clearlake. Anyway, the bird wasn't my point, someone down below commented about being able fly in bad weather and I was offering example as to why we (they) don't take chances.

[robbyroo3472]

I think you have your wires crossed a little bit. Yes, a REACH helicopter did crash in 2003 killing the pilot and two medical crew on board, but it wasn't this ship. The ship that crashed was N25RX. This ship was repainted and given a new tail number - N22RX (but still owned by REACH.)

[tubesteakdynamo]

@jdhelicopterpilot On December 23, 2003 , That very REACH crashed in Reeves Canyon killing all three on board, including THAT pilot and one of the crew in this video. They hit the side of a mountain, after getting trapped in a low thunder cloud. The pilot had just aborted the flight and was returning just as he was here, but tragically was unable

[tubesteakdynamo]

On December 23, 2003 , That very REACH crashed in Reeves Canyon killing all three on board, including THAT pilot and one of the crew in this video. They hit the side of a mountain, after getting trapped in a low thunder cloud. The pilot had just aborted the flight and was returning just as he was here, but tragically was unable.

[jdhelicopterpilot]

Just wanted to clear up a few things. The pilots are IFR rated and can fly in the clouds and what not. However, there are no instrument procedures for departing or arriving to a scene call. They can use IFR to leave or land at an airport to reach clear weather and land on scene. There instrument procedures for some hospitals so that is doable to a degree. The pilot did the right thing. Fog can roll in real fast, faster that we can get around it.