5/22/2009 11:02:00 PM 2 die in helicopter crash near Black Canyon City; witness says it 'just stopped'
Photo courtesy Black Canyon Fire Dept.
Firefighters extinguish what is left of the fire from the crash Friday of an experimental helicopter near Rock Springs Cafe just south of Black Canyon City.
BLACK CANYON CITY - Two people died Friday in a helicopter crash on the access road near Rock Springs Café, Black Canyon Fire Department officials said Friday.
Officials did not immediately release the names of the dead pending notification of next of kin.
The crash did not affect traffic on Interstate 17, although numerous motorists witnessed the crash of the small chopper.
DPS Cmdr. Frank Lopez said the crash south of Black Canyon City happened at around 1:45 p.m.
Destiny Najera, 22, of Prescott Valley said she was driving on I-17 south toward Phoenix when she noticed a small helicopter rise in the air just yards from the highway.
"All of a sudden the propellers just stopped and things started falling off," Najera said. "Then it fell and burst into flames. A big, black puff of smoke covered the whole area. It was crazy."
She said the cars ahead of her all slowed down and started pulling over.
The helicopter looked like it had a glass bubble canopy on top, Najera added.
"It looked like it fell on the glass bubble," she said.
Lopez said witnesses have said the helicopter's rotors appeared to fly off in mid-air. The aircraft was heavily damaged.
Barbara Leijh, evening manager at the café, said in a phone call later Friday afternoon that staff at the popular eating spot heard the crash but didn't see it.
"It's very upsetting to all of us," Leijh said.
She said that although the names of the dead had not yet been released, staff there fear the two dead crash victims are two men who have visited the café once or twice each month for a long time.
"These men were just extremely nice men," she said. They would park their small helicopter in a nearby parking lot the café uses for overflow parking once a month during its Hogs N' Heat barbecue night. The rest of the time the parking lot sits empty, so the two men would park there and walk to the café for lunch, Leijh said.
"We don't know them by name, but they always come in here once or twice a month," she continued. "They weren't uppity like you might think someone flying a helicopter would be. They were just very, very nice guys, very personable and extremely friendly people."
Reader Comments
Posted: Friday, May 22, 2009
Article comment by:
FL
Far too many of these crashes of late. What a sad state of affairs for those left behind. May you find peace and comfort in God during your loss.
