News helicopter crashes in Texas state forest, occupants killed

[Guest guest]

CONROE — A news helicopter carrying a pilot and TV photographer crashed in a

state forest Monday, killing both people, authorities said.The men were covering

a shooting in Montgomery County north of Houston for KTRK-TV, the ABC affiliate

in Houston, when their helicopter went down in the W.G. State Forest,

state Department of Public Safety Sgt. Hiebert said.

The TV station identified the pilot as Downhower and the photographer as

Dave Garrett.

It was not immediately clear what caused the 11:30 a.m. crash, but authorities

from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety

Board were en route to investigate, Hiebert said.

It was a devastating scene. Other TV news helicopters broadcast footage of the

pile of smoldering debris at the foot of a burning tree. The helicopter

shattered into pieces, with the station’s logo partially visible on one part.

Most of it burned after impact, Hiebert said.

There were a few houses nearby, but none were affected by the flames and smoke,

which were extinguished by early afternoon.

The aircraft, owned by Helicopters Inc., was a 1993 Bell 206L4, company

spokeswoman Seva Kaiser said. The St. Louis company leases helicopters to about

70 newsgathering organizations. Its officials were en route to the area.

The station issued a statement after the wreck.

" All of us at KTRK-TV are deeply saddened by the tragic accident involving

SkyEye 13 and our hearts go out to the families of the pilot and the

photographer, " station spokesman Tom Ash said in a statement.