Pilot, 53, is killed and passenger is critically injured in helicopter crash just moments after take off from Nevada airport
- One man is dead and one is in critical condition after a helicopter crashed in Nevada
- The incident happened Wednesday afternoon on State Road 159, near the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, moments after take off
- The victims were taken to the hospital for their injuries
- The Clark County Coroner’s Office identified Scott Socquet, 53, as the deceased
- The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash but the cause is not yet clear
A pilot is dead and one man is critically injured after a helicopter crashed in Nevada.
Authorities say the deadly crash happened on Wednesday afternoon at 3.40pm on State Road 159, near the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.
Witnesses called 911 and administered initial medical services to the two men involved in the crash.
A helicopter crashed near the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation in Nevada, leaving one man dead and one critically injured
The two victims took off from a Nevada airport in a Robinson R44 , but crashed soon after but crashed moments after
The men reportedly took off from a nearby airport in a Robinson R44,a four-seat light helicopter, before crashing just minutes later.
They were taken to University Medical Center where 53-year-old Scott Socquet of Milford, Connecticut died of his injuries.
The other man in his 20s is reportedly stable, but not in great shape.
The Federal Aviation Administration says the cause of the crash is currently unknown, but an investigation is underway.
Records show the helicopter belonged to Binner Enterprises, a flight school based in Henderson.
Owner Matt Binner told FOX5 that the victims rented the helicopter from him and the pilot was an experienced flyer.
Pictured: a map showing where the helicopter crashed on S.R. 159 in Nevada
Pictured: a propeller from the totaled helicopter after it crashed on Wednesday
The Federal Aviation Administration says the cause of the helicopter (pictured) is unknown, but they are investigating
The pilot has reportedly rented helicopters from Binner for the last three years and their latest flight was meant to be leisurely.
In the hours after the crash, debris was scattered along the S.R. 159 and the highway was closed in both directions.
The main concern for on-site authorities was the battery still inside the totaled helicopter, next to the fuel, that threatened to combust.
‘We’re keeping everyone as far back as possible because we don’t want any type of fire or explosion to take place,’ Nevada Highway Patrol spokesman Jason Buratczuk told the Review Journal.
The roadway is expected to be reopened on Thursday.
Witness Ezequiel Mayorga called the crash: ‘One of the worst accidents I ever saw.’
‘One of the guys, he was saying, “I’m not going to make it, I’m not going to make it”,’ Mayorga told Fox 5.
He said one of the men kept asking how his ‘brother’ was doing.
The helicopter model has an alleged history of fatal accidents.
The Los Angeles Times reports that the helicopter model was involved in 42 fatalities between 2006 and 2016.
The deaths have come from post-crash fires, suddenly dropping mid-flight and when rotor blades sliced through important areas like cockpits.
The NHP Southern Command posted a tweet confirming the investigation and updated the current status of S.R. 159
Robinson Helicopter Co. has vehemently denied all of these claims.
The FAA reports there were 511 helicopter accidents between 2013 and 2016.
The Flight Safety school says that helicopter accidents have increased in the United States increased in 2017 while decreasing internationally.
There were 121 helicopter accidents and 34 fatalities.
For every 100,000 flights, approximately 3.55 of them result in accidents.