Medical Helicopter Crashes Near Oklahoma Hospital

On September 29th, a medical helicopter carrying four people crash-landed on a street near Comanche County Memorial Hospital in Lawton, Oklahoma. The helicopter, which was returning to the hospital at around 6 a.m. after taking a patient to Oklahoma City, reportedly lost power. During the crash landing, one of the helicopter’s rotors hit a car and a brick fence; however, the pilot and three crew members escaped with only minor injuries. There were no patients aboard the helicopter when the crash occurred.

The helicopter had been inspected just a few days earlier and the helicopter’s owner, Survival Flight, a medical air transport company that uses both Bell Helicopters and Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, had just received its license to operate at the hospital. This was only its fourth day in operation there. The company has been in business for seven years and, according to company officials, this was its first crash.

A witness to the crash said the helicopter was flying low, and she did not see any lights on. The preliminary report issued by the NTSB stated that the helicopter became unresponsive as the pilot prepared to land. However, an official cause for the crash won’t be known until the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board complete their investigation.

Slack Davis Sanger has extensive experience representing the families of those injured or killed in medical helicopter crashes. Managing Partner, Mike Slack, is not only an aviation attorney but also a licensed pilot. And, with over 30 years of experience, he understands what it takes to successfully litigate cases involving medical helicopter crashes.

To discuss the history of medical helicopter crashes and factors contributing to these crashes, call us at 512-795-8686.