SAPULPA, Okla. -- A rural air-ambulance company was still working Wednesday to determine the cause of a Tuesday evening helicopter crash near Sapulpa.
Two people sustained minor injuries when the Air Evac Lifeteam medical helicopter they were riding in crashed in Creek County. Troopers said the pilot, Kenneth Capitol, 36, of Edmond, tried to land the helicopter but ended up crashing into the ground next to a house.
Officials with Missouri-based Air Evac Lifeteam said Wednesday that they were looking into what caused the chopper to crash.
Manager Shawn Qualls said Capitol is a 14-year veteran pilot. Qualls said that just before the crash, Capitol was maneuvering the Bell 206 chopper in an attempt to avoid houses, trees and wires in the area.
"Pilots go through recurring training every year, (and) they're required to have so many hours of flight time prior to coming," Qualls said. "We don't hire new pilots. They have to have a certain level of experience."
In addition, Qualls said, the company adheres to strict aircraft maintenance rules.
"Every base has its own mechanic that we pay for," he said. "One-hundred percent of the job is making sure the aircraft is safe, stable and able to fly.
"My first concern was the crew and if we had a patient on board. I'm absolutely grateful that these people are OK."
All three crewmembers on board the aircraft walked away from the crash.
Capitol and nurse Kerri Meier, 36, of Yukon, both suffered minor head injuries and were treated at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa. Paramedic David Howard, 41, of Edmond, was not injured.
Authorities said they notified the Federal Aviation Administration about the accident.
Air Evac Lifeteam officials said service will not be affected by the loss of the chopper that crashed. Officials said the crashed helicopter was an identical backup for the pilot's usual chopper, which was recieving routine maintenance
Tuesday evening's crash marked the first time an Air Evac Lifeteam chopper crashed in Oklahoma.
One of the company's aircraft crashed last April in Indiana, causing the death of a patient who was on board. The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating that deadly accident.
Previous Story:Nov. 10, 2004: Edmond Man Among 2 Injured In Helicopter CrashCopyright 2004 by ChannelOklahoma.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
