Maryland State PD Fatal Medevac Crash

[Gerard]

Late Saturday evening, Maryland State Police Helicopter Trooper 2, stationed at Andrews AFB, was dispatched to a serious accident in Waldorf, Md.
25 miles south of Andrews. Taking off the weather was fine with a 1300 ft ceiling, 7 miles visibilty. They landed at the LZ, picked up two victims and also
asked a local EMT from the Waldorf VFD to help on board. They were intending to drop the victims at Prince George County Hospital but as they got close
to the hospital things went wrong. The ceiling was now down to 500 feet, 4 miles so the pilot decided to head into Andrews instead and have the victims go
by ambulance. But on approach ATC changed his Runway location, he had problems picking up the glide slope AND the pilot was having trouble assessing his
surroundings. After the second radio call contact was lost. About 1:15AM and only three miles from Andrews the wreckage of the Dauphin helicopter was found
in a wooded park lying on its side with a tree on top. The pilot, a trooper/medic, the Waldorf EMT and one of the accident victims were dead. AMAZINGLY the
2nd accident victim was still alive and rushed to the hospital. NTSB investigators did say the copter hit a tree at 80 feet high and wreckage was scattered over
a wide area. Wtnesses saw the copter flying below the the clouds and the ceiling in some spots was only 200 feet with a mist. NTSB also said the copter was
flying about 60 knots.
Maryland State PD fly single pilot in their Dauphins and only three of the twelve Dauphins are equipped with TAWS (Terrain Awareness Warning System). Trooper 2
was not one of them.
As of today the MSP Aviation Section is still not flying until they determine that it wasnt a mechanical problem that caused the crash. Private EMS operators
along with Pa, Va. and Delaware State Police units and US Park Police are taking any missions if needed.
The 59 year old pilot was a 24 year MSP veteran, a CFI and according to one article I read was licensed to instruct other pilots in instrument flying.

Lots of related stories/video can be at htpp://www.flightweb.com

[cancidas]

oh crap. my buddy's brother flies for the MDSP on the dauphin. may the crew RIP, it's a huge loss to the helicopter community.

[Gerard]

The MSP have been under fire before this because of a large number of issues including maintenance (no documentation, non-compliance with repair orders), staffing and poor data control. There have been hearings and a damning report by Maryland State auditors. Now this. Not good for a unit that pretty much were the beginners of the medevac system in the US back in the early 70s.
And the whole HEMS system in the US is under heavy scrutiny. So far this year 24 people have died in HEMS crashes and in the last 12 months
31 people have died in eight crashes.