NTSB issues report on Lifestar crash; pilot error

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Amarillo Globe-News: Local News: NTSB issues report on Lifestar crash; pilot

error blamed 04/23/01

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Web posted Monday, April 23, 2001

2:25 p.m. CT

NTSB issues report on Lifestar crash; pilot error blamed

By HOLLY PARKER

Globe-News Staff Writer

The National Transportation and Safety Board has determined that the pilot

probably caused the March 10, 2000, Lifestar crash that killed all four aboard.

The NTSB concluded that the aircraft went down due to " the pilot's failure

to maintain control of the helicopter as a result of his continued flight into

known adverse weather conditions.''

Among the factors cited as contributors to the crash was the pilot's lack

of total instrument flight time. Ed Sanneman, 33, was an instrument-rated pilot,

meaning he could fly using his control panels even when he couldn't see outside

the craft. But Sanneman had only flown an hour in bad weather before the crash.

He received his instrument rating by training on a flight simulator.

The report, completed over the weekend, also concluded that some of the

factors leading up to the crash were the dark conditions, fog and a low ceiling.

A low ceiling means that clouds are thick and low to the ground.

The report found no evidence of a helicopter malfunction.

The report shows that weather conditions rapidly deteriorated while the

helicopter waited nearly an hour parked on U.S. Highway 385, 15 miles south of

Boise City, Okla., for a ground ambulance to transport an ill infant to the air

ambulance.

Sanneman, flight nurse Stone, 30; paramedic Terry Griffith, 35; and

their 4-month-old patient, Kathy Esparza, died en route to Northwest Texas

Hospital after pickup up Esparza from an ambulance on Highway 385.

The helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff under extremely foggy and icy

conditions that were described the report by the ambulance driver, a paramedic

and a sheriff - all of whom saw Lifestar lift off but did not see the crash.

Lifestar landed south of Boise City at 5:06 a.m. because of fog and waited

for the ground ambulance to bring Esparza to the helicopter. It took the

ambulance nearly an hour to get to the helicopter, so the helicopter waited

under continuing deteriorating conditions.

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