Helicopter Collision in Southern New Jersey

Authorities on Monday identified two pilots who died after their helicopters collided midair in southern New Jersey. The incident occurred on Sunday, and the investigation is ongoing.

Victims Identified

Kenneth Kirsch, 65, and Michael Greenberg, 71, were friends who both lived in New Jersey and would often have breakfast together at a cafe near the crash site in Hammonton, about 35 miles southeast of Philadelphia.

Hammonton police Chief Kevin Friel said in a statement that Kirsch, of Carney’s Point, was pronounced dead at an area hospital after being flown there, while Greenberg, of Sewell, died at the crash site.

Crash Details

“Statements from witnesses had the two helicopters flying close together just before the crash,” he said. “The crash site was approximately a mile and a half from the airport in a farm field.”

The Federal Aviation Administration described the crash as a midair collision between an Enstrom F-28A helicopter and Enstrom 280C helicopter over Hammonton Municipal Airport. Only the pilots were on board.

Investigation

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board were at the site Monday, authorities said. Friel said rescuers responded to a report of an aviation crash at about 11:25 a.m. Sunday.

Video from the scene shows a helicopter spinning rapidly to the ground. Police and fire crews subsequently extinguished flames that engulfed one of the helicopters.

Witness Accounts

Sal Silipino, owner of a cafe near the crash site, said the pilots were regulars at the restaurant and would often have breakfast together. He said he and other customers watched the helicopters take off before one began spiraling downward, followed by the other.

“It was shocking,” he said. “I’m still shaking after that happened.”

Hammonton resident Dan Dameshek told NBC10 that he was leaving a gym when he heard a loud snap and saw two helicopters spinning out of control.

“Immediately, the first helicopter went from right side up to upside down and started rapidly spinning, falling out of the air,” Dameshek told the TV station. “And then it looked like the second helicopter was OK for a second, and then it sounded like another snap or something… and then that helicopter started rapidly spinning out of the air.”

Location and Weather

Hammonton is a town of about 15,000 people located in Atlantic County in the southern part of New Jersey. The town has a history of agriculture and is located near the Pine Barrens, a forested wilderness area that covers more than 1 million acres.

Although it was mostly cloudy at the time of the crash, winds were light and visibility was good, according to the weather forecasting company AccuWeather.

Causes of the Crash

Investigators will likely first look to review any communications between the two pilots and whether they were able to see each other, said Alan Diehl, a former crash investigator for the FAA and NTSB.

“Virtually all midair collisions are a failure to what they call ‘see and avoid,’” Diehl said. “Clearly they’ll be looking at the out-of-cockpit views of the two aircraft and seeing if one pilot was approaching from the blind side.”

Conclusion

The helicopter collision in southern New Jersey resulted in the deaths of two pilots, Kenneth Kirsch and Michael Greenberg. The investigation is ongoing, and the causes of the crash are still unknown. The incident highlights the importance of safety measures in aviation and the need for pilots to be aware of their surroundings at all times.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happened in the helicopter collision in southern New Jersey?

A: Two helicopters collided midair in southern New Jersey, resulting in the deaths of two pilots, Kenneth Kirsch and Michael Greenberg.

Q: Where did the crash occur?

A: The crash occurred in a farm field approximately a mile and a half from the Hammonton Municipal Airport in Atlantic County, New Jersey.

Q: What were the weather conditions like at the time of the crash?

A: The weather conditions were mostly cloudy, but winds were light and visibility was good, according to the weather forecasting company AccuWeather.

Q: What is being done to investigate the crash?

A: Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are reviewing any communications between the two pilots and whether they were able to see each other. They will also be looking at the out-of-cockpit views of the two aircraft to determine if one pilot was approaching from the blind side.