Chopper Down

What a tragic story. 

The crewmembers were identified during a morning news conference as Darren Bean, a physician; Mark Coyne, a flight nurse; and Steve Lipperer, the pilot.

Preliminary reports indicate the chopper may have flown into a hill and/or struck some trees. The wreckage was found on a wooded hillside in La Crosse County four to five miles from the airport.

1. I would like to draw your attention to Asher Heimermann, a promising young journalist from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, whose blog I spotted at MyFoxMilwaukee.com. He has his own website, http://www.asherheimermann.com/.

   His resume includes his own radio program, as well as blogs and commentaries, and has interviewed politicians and other VIPs. Once you view his website, you’ll see the impressiveness of this mature 14 year old.

   Posted by on May 11, 2008 at 2256 hrs




2. I used to work at U.W. Hospital while going to school.  I got to know many of the Med Flight staff, including Mark Coyne, who I also took an EMT course from.  The program is a completely professional program and these gentlemen will be missed tremendously.  They are all professionals and this is quite a tragedy for U.W. and the entire state.
   And Wiscosin visitor, you’re an idiot for leaving a comment on this post.  Show some respect.

   Posted by on May 12, 2008 at 0205 hrs




3. To the firefighters out there:  Will Dr. Bean be honored in WI. Rapids, at the WI Firefighter’s monument for LODD because he was the Madison FD medical director and died on a flight?  I know it is a tough call.

   Posted by on May 12, 2008 at 0243 hrs




4. One really has to wonder why this guy was on a VFR flight plan in rain and fog at night.  He was flying a completely IFR helicopter and should have been on a IFR flight plan.  It would have made all the difference.

   Posted by on May 12, 2008 at 0644 hrs




5. 45acp:

   You say that having filed an IFR plan would have made all of the difference in the world. This is a difficult statement to agree with for 2 reasons. First, the cause of the crash has not yet been determined. Second, just because he had filed a VFR flight plan does not mean that he was not using his instruments. Light winds, light rain, vis 6-7 miles are well within VFR minimums. Filing and following an IFR plan from LaCrosse to UW-M would involve a slight dogleg in the flight plan while following most likely the Victor 2 airway. It would also mean getting vectored by Dane County Approach once within 20 miles of Madison. These could add unneeded delays to their getting back and down. It is not unusual that the pilot would file VFR and intend on flying a direct GPS route. Being on a VFR plan does not mean that a pilot cannot use his instruments, or that they have to be turned off.

   Posted by on May 12, 2008 at 0853 hrs