3 Dead in Army Chopper Crash in Ala.

[Ghost in the Machine]

3 Dead in Army Chopper Crash in Ala.
Published: 9/12/07, 11:46 AM EDT

SKYLINE, Ala. (AP) - An Army helicopter on a training flight in foggy weather struck a power line and crashed in northeast Alabama, killing all three soldiers on board, officials said Wednesday.

The UH-60 Black Hawk was based at Fort Campbell, Ky., where base spokesman Sgt. Mark Swart said the military had yet to release the names of the victims. They were identified by the military as members of the 101st Aviation Regiment, 4th Battalion.

Jackson County Coroner John David Jordan said the helicopter hit a power line and crashed into a field near a house about 6:15 p.m. Tuesday. Debris was scattered over a large area, he said, and some of the wreckage burned.

"There was fog in the area at the time, but I don't know if that was the cause," said Jordan. The fog was too thick for a helicopter ambulance to fly to the crash site, he said.

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Quick question. Why would a chopper from Ft. Campbell Ky to Chattanooga Tn be in Alabama? It doesn't make sense to me at all.

[jmowreader]

1. Look at a map of Tennessee

Chattanooga is right on the southern border. Maybe the pilot thought an area looked lightning-prone and flew south of it.

[Ghost in the Machine]

2. Ummm... I live near Chattanooga.. and Huntsville is 125 miles southwest

of Chattanooga. That's a long way out of the way to avoid a storm, don't you think?


Huntsville International Airport (HSV): 256-772-9395
1000 Glenn Hearn Blvd Sw, Huntsville, AL 35824, US
Revise | New Directions


Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA):
Chattanooga, TN US
Revise | New Directions

Total Est. Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes
Total Est. Distance: 125.42 miles




Terry Johnson, a spokesman with the Tennessee Valley Authority, said the helicopter struck a high-voltage line connecting a generating plant with a power substation near Huntsville. The wires were not carrying electricity at the time of the crash because of maintenance work.

Swart declined comment on the cause of the accident.

"We'll have an investigation. We can't speculate on what happened," he said.

The Black Hawk was on a training mission flying from Fort Campbell to the municipal airport in Chattanooga, Tenn., at the time of the crash, according to an Army statement. The aircraft was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade.

[Ghost in the Machine]

3. kick