Authorities have confirmed the identities of two pilots who lost their lives in a midair collision involving two helicopters in Hammonton, New Jersey, on Sunday morning. The victims, Kenneth Kirsch, 65, and Michael Greenberg, 71, were both experienced aviators and friends who frequently dined together at a nearby café.
Witnesses reported seeing both helicopters take off shortly before the unfortunate accident occurred at approximately 11:25 a.m., with one of the crafts spiraling out of control before crashing into a farm field about 1.5 miles from the Hammonton Municipal Airport, igniting upon impact.
Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel revealed that Kirsch was pronounced dead at a local hospital after being transported there, while Greenberg sadly died at the crash site. Videos captured from the scene depict one helicopter in a rapid spin before crashing down.
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft involved as an Enstrom F-28A and an Enstrom 280C helicopter. At the time of the accident, only the pilots occupied the aircraft.
Sal Silipino, who runs the café the pilots often frequented, recounted the shock felt by him and his patrons upon witnessing the unfolding tragedy. The crash site has since been secured by local authorities and is currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board to uncover the factors leading to the crash.
Experts, including former FAA and NTSB investigator Alan Diehl, indicated that the investigation will also target the communication protocols between the pilots and the visibility conditions during the flight, as midair collisions are often attributed to a failure in 'see and avoid' tactics. Despite cloudy skies, conditions had been reported as having good visibility and light winds at the time of the collision.
Witnesses reported seeing both helicopters take off shortly before the unfortunate accident occurred at approximately 11:25 a.m., with one of the crafts spiraling out of control before crashing into a farm field about 1.5 miles from the Hammonton Municipal Airport, igniting upon impact.
Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel revealed that Kirsch was pronounced dead at a local hospital after being transported there, while Greenberg sadly died at the crash site. Videos captured from the scene depict one helicopter in a rapid spin before crashing down.
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft involved as an Enstrom F-28A and an Enstrom 280C helicopter. At the time of the accident, only the pilots occupied the aircraft.
Sal Silipino, who runs the café the pilots often frequented, recounted the shock felt by him and his patrons upon witnessing the unfolding tragedy. The crash site has since been secured by local authorities and is currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board to uncover the factors leading to the crash.
Experts, including former FAA and NTSB investigator Alan Diehl, indicated that the investigation will also target the communication protocols between the pilots and the visibility conditions during the flight, as midair collisions are often attributed to a failure in 'see and avoid' tactics. Despite cloudy skies, conditions had been reported as having good visibility and light winds at the time of the collision.
