Medical Copter Crash Takes 3 Lives
Three people were killed Tuesday night when a medical helicopter crashed into a mountain in Mendocino County, Federal Aviation Administration officials said.
After leaving Santa Rosa, the helicopter stopped in Ukiah on its way to Willits, a town about 15 miles north. After leaving Ukiah, the pilot decided to turn back due to weather conditions, said FAA spokesman Donn Walker.
It was on the way back that the helicopter went down around 7:30 p.m., about two miles north of Redwood Valley. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact of the crash and a resulting fire, Walker said.
All three people on board -- a pilot and two crew members -- were killed. There were no patients on the helicopter.
The cause of the crash has not been determined. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.
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