KGUN9 On Your Side, Tucson News, Weather & SportsWitness who snapped photo of crashing copter reflects on events

Witness who snapped photo of crashing copter reflects on events

Reporter:  Tammy Vo
Web Producer:  Forrest Carr

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - On Wednesday afternoon Dayle Gray was walking outdoors in his north Tucson neighborhood when he heard a helicopter flying overhead.  Gray told KGUN9's Tammy Vo that something didn't sound right about the engine.  "The noise had stopped, there were a couple pop pop pops, and then there was dead silence."

Gray looked up to see the helicopter spinning and diving toward the ground.  He happened to have a small digital camera in his hand, and was able to capture a shot of the chopper a split second before it disappeared behind a tree line.  "The minute it went down, within 5-6 seconds, just a plume of black smoke."

The helicopter had smashed onto North Park Avenue, south of East Glenn Street, on Tucson's north side, narrowly missing a house.

Gray ran to the scene and captured video of the flaming wreckage.   He was there as firefighters arrived and doused the flames.  Gray captured it all with snapshots and video.

Hours later, Gray was still reeling from the emotion of what he witnessed.  "You really don't expect seeing this, not even once in a lifetime to be honest with you," Gray said.   "Watching it spinning in the air, silent was really eerie."

As one of the very first to arrive on the scene, Gray was hoping to find survivors, and perhaps be able to help.  But the flames were so intense that there was nothing anyone could do.   

Gray said he felt helpless.  "You can't do anything about it. And even some of the emergency people, if there's somebody in there, there's probably not a lot they can do."

Three people were aboard the LifeNet medical helicopter, which was operated by Colorado-based Air Methods Corp.  All three were crew members, and all three died.  No one on the ground was hurt.  The helicopter was based in Douglas and was on its way there, returning from Marana, when it crashed.

As for Gray, he expects that the images he captured on his camera will remain etched in his mind for the rest of his life.  "Sticks with you. Knowing the people passed away makes it harder, you know?"