***Breaking - Blackhawk Helicopter Crashes During Mt. Hood Climber Rescue!***

FOX News Channel - Breaking News | May 22, 2002 | FOX News Channel - Breaking News

[MeekOneGOP]

***Breaking - Blackhawk Helicopter Crashes
During Mt. Hood Climber Rescue!***

Per FOX News Channel Breaking News announcement.
I will post further updates, if any from FOX News Channel........

[MeekOneGOP]

Anyone else see this or other report from another news outlet?

[hmmmmm]

It was absolutely horrible.

[aomagrat]

Being reported on CNN and MSNBC, Fox reporting commercials.

[B Knotts]

I posted this thread just after yours. It has some details, and a link to video of the crash.

[aomagrat]

MSNBC reporting 3 climbers dead.

[Dallas]

30 May 2002 21:08
Rescue chopper crashes on Oregon's Mt. Hood

---

PORTLAND, Ore., May 30 (Reuters) - A National Guard helicopter trying to rescue six survivors of a deadly climbing accident crashed into Oregon's 11,237 foot (3,423-metre) Mt. Hood on Thursday and tumbled onto a glacier.

The fate of those aboard the helicopter was not immediately known. The scene was shown live on local television with a stunned announcer saying, "Oh, if only this was a movie."

Rescuers in National Guard Black Hawk helicopters had been lowered to an icy crevasse where nine climbers had fallen as they approached the summit. Three of those climbers were killed and the other six injured.

Local station KGW-TV reported that crews equipped with oxygen tanks, life support and specialized climbing gear were moving toward the scene in tractors and said that rescue crews were concerned because rising temperatures threatened the stability of the icy surface.

The station reported that the climbers fell on Thursday morning as they were about 800 feet (244 metres) from the summit of Mt. Hood, which is about 50 miles (80 km) east of Portland, Oregon.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks for that update on #6, FRiend!

[MeekOneGOP]

Here's a pic.................

[hchutch]

Crap...

I don't think any of that Blackhawk crew made it. I hope I'm wrong, but this looks bad. It looks REAL bad.

[remaininlight]

I think the 'copter crew made it for the most part. Fox is saying they should have been well harnessed in. My prayers are with them.

[southern rock]

I don't think any of that Blackhawk crew made it.

I don't know, those guys are strapped into their seats tighter than NASCAR drivers. They might be O.K.

[aomagrat]

MSNBC reporting 1 crewman critical.

[KissOfTheSith]

>A National Guard helicopter trying to rescue six survivors...

Just yesterday or the day before my Dad and I watched news coverage of a helicopter rescuing somebody of a glacier. I think that rescue worked okay, but it looked hair raising.

Does anyone know the details of this kind of thing?

Is the terrain flat enough and solid enough for the helicopter to land? Or does the copter have to hover and lower/raise people by cable?

(The reason I ask is I know that at some national parks there is a crazy enviro-wacko law prohibiting helicopters from touching down within the park even in resuce situations -- so copters can only direct ground workers or hover above ground situations... (There was a horrible incident last summer where a helicopter located a lost boy, but couldn't touch down so the pilot could only radio the boy's position to a ground team which -- thank God -- found the boy about 10 hours later!))

-- KotS

[Texaggie79]

Said one crew member was in critical. Video almost looked like one fell out, but I couldn't tell

[cmsgop]

Just Caught this on NWCN....., Prayers

[newsperson999]

AP STORY HERE

[ladtx]

Does anyone know the details of this kind of thing?

As a helicopter pilot I can tell you it is one of the most nerve-wracking missions to be on. Any hovering over snow is made difficult by blowing snow hampering visibility and ruining any point of reference. Even if the snow is not blowing it is hard to hover precisely because of the lack of terrain definition, you can tell if you are moving forward, backward or sideways. Even with a radar altimeter it is difficult, you learn to rely on your crew chief since he can lean out and get a better view. Not a fun mission.

[ladtx]

That should be "you can't tell"

[NetValue]

"at some national parks there is a crazy enviro-wacko law prohibiting helicopters from touching down within the park even in resuce situations."

American better stand up and resist these self-defeating assinine laws.

[tracer]

Ay, caramba!! Upside down in the snow!! Wind gust?

Prayers for crew, passengers and families....