FRISCO, COLORADO — The pilot of a medical helicopter was killed and two other medical personnel aboard were injured when the aircraft span out of control and crashed in a Frisco, Colorado hospital's parking lot seconds after takeoff on Friday, July 3.
The Flight For Life helicopter was on a non-medical callout when it took off from St. Anthony Summit Medical Center about 70 miles west of Denver on Friday afternoon. The 64-year-old pilot, identified by authorities as Patrick Mahony was joined by a paramedic and a flight nurse, the Denver Post reported.
One witness told NBC affiliate 9 News the helicopter rose to perhaps 100 feet, then lurched and began to spin out of control. The helicopter drifted about 320 feet to a parking lot where it crashed into a motorhome and a pickup truck. The aircraft's fuel set off a large explosion, engulfing the helicopter and the unoccupied vehicles.
One witness saw the pilot trying to escape through the shattered windshield, ABC 7 Denver reported. He and hospital staff helped pull the paramedic and nurse to safety. Mahoney died at the scene. The two crew members, whose names were not public at the time of publication, suffered non life-threatening injuries.
Investigators say it could be days before they have an idea what went wrong, ABC 7 reported.
Mahoney was a Vietnam veteran pilot and had been with Flight For Life for 27 years.
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