At about 07:30 CDT, a Continental Tomcat MK5A and a Texas Helicopter OH-13E collided in flight over a field in Heflin. Both pilots were killed. Both helicopters were registered to the same company and were performing agricultural operations. Witnesses said the OH-13 was flying south about 150 feet above the ground spraying herbicides. The Tomcat had just taken off from a flatbed truck and climbed to clear a stand of 100-foot trees. It then turned east into the sun and the two helicopters collided. Neither aircraft took evasive action.
Sept. 16, Heflin, Ala. / Tomcat MK5A and OH-13E
At about 07:30 CDT, a Continental Tomcat MK5A and a Texas Helicopter OH-13E collided in flight over a field in Heflin. Both pilots were killed. Both helicopters were registered to the same company and were performing agricultural operations. Witnesses said the OH-13 was flying south about 150 feet above the ground spraying herbicides. The Tomcat had just taken off from a flatbed truck and climbed to clear a stand of 100-foot trees. It then turned east into the sun and the two helicopters collided. Neither aircraft took evasive action....
Key Takeaways:
- Two agricultural helicopters from the same company collided mid-air over Heflin, resulting in the deaths of both pilots.
- The collision occurred when one helicopter, having just taken off and climbing to clear trees, turned into the sun and collided with the second aircraft that was spraying herbicides at a low altitude, with neither taking evasive action.
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