Incident No Date & Time Rept 2000-021656-C 08/19/2000 13:24 Occurred From: Occurred Until: 08/19/2000 13:24 08/19/2000 13:24 Current Disp Disposed To ACTIVE Disposition Date Juveniles Only? 08/19/2000 Photos? Consent? Afiidavit? Officer Assigned NO NO NO NO '28 DOBBINS, PTL JOHN S _____ ~~ ~ #C Hgt. 6.' 3" WHITE __ ___ ST 'D Tnw TN 46704 I Wat. 190 NON - HI S P Oftense: PI19 MISC. INFORMATION Incident Location ST RD 2/HEAVLIN RD Municipality District VALPARAISO CNTR TTY Sent? Cancelled? TTY number Optional Date/Time Investigating Otficer NO / / 00: 00 rpt 08/19/2000 revt . c 1.41 Date Printed: 08/21/2000 Page 1 - WITNESS CHESTEL, A - -. - - - - (219) 929-4405 (219) 462-1168 1 Hgir BROWN Eyes BLUE P119 MISC. INFORMATION 08/19/2000 WITNESS 08/19/2000 WITNESS 08/19/2000 WITNESS 08/19/2000 WITNESS 08/19/2000 / / FEMALE Born HERNANDEZ, BECKY Hgt. 0' 0" (219) 840-0240 Hair P119 MISC. INFORMATION Born HUSIAR, NICOLE 2055 S ST RD 2 Hgt. 0' 0" P119 MISC. INFORMATION INNES, DAVID 6827 1/2 KENNEDY AV Hgt. 0' 0" HAMMOND Eyes P119 MISC. INFORMATION INNES, RENEE 6827 1/2 KENNEDY AV Hgt. 0' 0" (219) 845-9331 Hair P119 MISC. INFORMATION Wgt . 0 Eyes / / FEMALE VALPARAISO IN Wgt. 0 Eyes Hair / / MALE Born IN 46323 Wgt. 0 Hair (219) 845-9331 / / FEMALE Born HAMMOND IN 46323 Wgt. 0 LUEDTKE, ALLISON Born / / FEMALE Eyes Hgt. 0' 0" Wat . 0 WITNESS (219) 942-0067 1 Hgir Eyes P119 MISC. INFORMATION
Transcript
Incident No Date & Time Rept 2000-021656-C 08/19/2000 13:24 Occurred From: Occurred Until: 08/19/2000 13:24 08/19/2000 13:24 Current Disp Disposed To ACTIVE Disposition Date Juveniles Only? 08/19/2000 Photos? Consent? Afiidavit?
Officer Assigned
NO
NO NO NO
'28 DOBBINS, PTL JOHN S
_ _ _ _ _ ~~ ~
#C Hgt. 6.' 3" WHITE _ _ _ _ _ ST 'D Tnw T N 46704 I Wat. 190 NON - HI S P
Oftense: PI19 MISC. INFORMATION Incident Location ST RD 2/HEAVLIN RD Municipal i ty District VALPARAISO CNTR TTY Sent? Cancelled? TTY number
Optional Date/Time
Investigating Otficer
NO
/ / 0 0 : 00
rpt
08/19/2000
revt . c 1.41 Date Printed: 08/21/2000 Page 1 -
WITNESS
CHESTEL, A - -. - - - -
(219) 929-4405 (219) 462-1168 1 Hgir BROWN Eyes BLUE P119 MISC. INFORMATION
08/19/2000
WITNESS 08/19/2000
WITNESS 08/19/2000
WITNESS 08/19/2000
WITNESS 08/19/2000
/ / FEMALE Born HERNANDEZ, BECKY Hgt. 0' 0 "
(219) 840-0240 Hair P119 MISC. INFORMATION
Born HUSIAR, NICOLE 2055 S ST RD 2 Hgt. 0' 0 "
P119 MISC. INFORMATION
INNES, DAVID 6827 1/2 KENNEDY AV Hgt. 0 ' 0 " HAMMOND Eyes
P119 MISC. INFORMATION
INNES, RENEE 6827 1/2 KENNEDY AV Hgt. 0 ' 0 "
(219) 845-9331 Hair P119 MISC. INFORMATION
Wgt . 0 Eyes
/ / FEMALE VALPARAISO IN Wgt. 0
Eyes Hair
/ / MALE Born
IN 46323 Wgt. 0 Hair (219) 845-9331
/ / FEMALE Born
HAMMOND IN 46323 Wgt. 0
LUEDTKE, ALLISON Born / / FEMALE
Eyes
Hgt. 0 ' 0 " Wat . 0
WITNESS (219) 942-0067 1 Hgir Eyes P119 MISC. INFORMATION
20 Incident No Date & Time Rept
0-021656-C 08/19/2000 13:24 Offense: P119 MISC. INFORMATION
rpt -
Involvement Name/Address/Phone MANWARING , REGINALD 1755 STONEY CREEK CT
Description Born 11/20/1946 MALE Hqt. 6' 2" WHITE
I (219) 464-2075 I Hair Eyes WITNESS I P119 MISC. INFORMATION
WITNESS 08/19/2000
WITNESS 08/19/2000
VALPARAISO IN 46383 Wgt. 185 NON- HI S P (219) 465-4148 (219) 374-3600 Hair BROWN Eyes BROWN P119 MISC. INFORMATION
MARSHALL, ROBERT N Born / / MALE 2061 MAUMEE DR Hgt. 0 ' 0 " WHITE
(219) 462-5917 Hair Eyes P119 MISC. INFORMATION
MASSA, DANIEL W Born 08/08/1955 MALE 2254 HEAVLIN RD Hgt. 0 ' 0 " VALPARAISO IN 46383 Wqt. 0
VALPARAISO IN 46383 Wgt. 0 NON- HI SP
MERRY, JAMES L 912 S ST RD 2
Born 01/16/1956 MALE Hqt. 5'1O1! WHITE
1 (219) 956-4224 I Hair Eyes WITNESS I P119 MISC. INFORMATION
-. WITNESS
HEBRON IN 46341 Wst. 158 NON-HI S P (219) 996-4583 Hair BLONDE Eyes BLUE P119 MISC. INFORMATION
I (219) 956-4224 I Hair Eyes WITNESS I P119 MISC. INFORMATION
08/19/2000
WITNESS 08/19/2000
MEYER, MARK Born / / MALE
VALPARAISO IN wgt. 0 3902 SUMMIT DR Hgt. 0' 0 "
(219) 464-3253 Hair Eyes P119 MISC. INFORMATION
NEMTUDA, MICHAEL A Born / / MALE 1335 W 900 N Hgt. 0 ' 0" WHEATFIELD IN 46392 Wqt. 0
I (219) 464-4036 I Hair Eyes WITNESS I P119 MISC. INFORMATION
NEMTUDA, TIM 1335 W 900 N WHEATFIELD IN 46392
08/19/2000
Born / / MALE Hgt. 0' 0" Wqt. 0
I revt.c 1.41 Date Printed: 08/21/2000 Page 2
NOLAND, EDWARD R 388 S 200 W VALPARAISO IN 46383
Born / / MALE Hgt. 0 ' 0" Wqt. 0
271 S 500 W VALPARAISO IN 46385
Born / / MALE Hgt. 0 ' Oii Wat. n
08/19/2000
WITNESS 08/19/2000
VICTIM 08/19/2000
Born / / MALE PAAVOLA, OSMO 108 LOCUST ST Hgt. 0 ' Oii VALPARAISO (219) 464-4810 P119 MISC. INFORMATION
IN 46383 Wgt. 0 Hair Eyes
OTHER 08/19/2000
- , ~- I - - - -
WITNESS 08/19/2000
WITNESS 08/19/2000
Born / / MALE RAINS, JOSEPH L 5785 BRUCE ST Hgt. 0' 0" WHITE (219) 762-6315 (219) 463-1168 Hair P119 MISC. INFORMATION
Born 02/17/1956 MALE SOLMOS, BRYAN M 160 W 550 N Hgt. 5 ' 1 0 t 1 WHITE
PORTAGE IN 46368 Wgt. 0 NON - HI S P Eyes
VAL PARA1 S 0 IN 46385 Wgt. 185 NON- HI S P
WITNESS 08/19/2000
STONER, TIM 207 E COLLEGE AV KOUTS IN 46347 (219) 766-2435
'evt.c 1.41
Born / / MALE
Wgt. 0 Hgt. 0 ' 0"
Hair Eyes
TURBIN, LES 6433 GRAND AV
(219) 614-4548 HAMMOND IN 46320
Born / / MALE
Wgt. 0 Hgt. 0 ' 0 "
Hair Eyes
TURBIN, RACHEL 6433 GRAND AV HAMMOND IN (219) 614-4548
Date Printed: 08/21/2000 Page 3
Born / / FEMALE
wgt. 0 Hgt. 0 ' O i l
Hair Eyes
OTHER 08/19/2000
WITNESS 08/19/2000
OTHER
08/19/2000 13-:24 I MISC. INFORMATION Name/Address/Phone Description WILSON, MICHELLE Born / / FEMALE VALPARAISO POLICE DEPT Hgt. 0 ' Oii WHITE VALPARAISO IN 46383 Wqt. 0 NON-HI SP 0 - (219) 462-2135 I Hair Eyes P119 MISC. INFORMATION
FEMALE WOODLAND, ANITA CHERIAL Born 05/20/1954 300 S ST RD 2 Hgt. 5' 4" WHITE HEBRON IN 46341 Wgt. 160 NON- HI S P (219) 988-3747 Hair BLONDE Eyes BLUE P119 MISC. INFORMATION
YOUNG, BARRY JOSEPH Born 12/04/1943 MALE Hgt. 6' 4" WHITE 4707 FROBERG RD
VALPARAISO IN 46383 Wqt. 220 NON- HI S P (219) 462-7376 I Hair BROWN Eyes BLUE P119 MISC. INFORMATION
Status/Plate Type/VIN I Req/Evid/Value( Description NO VEHICLES
NO M.O. INFORMATION
Description/Name/Comments Make/Model/Stat Serial No./Qty/Value
INFO $0.00
Cateqory Description
- N A R R A T I V E
Incident No Date & Time Rept Oitense: P119
This unit was going east on State Road 2, approaching Heavlin Road when several vehicles stopped in front of me and the occupants jumped out and flagged me down. They stated that a helicopter had just gone down in a field and they pointed north to an area west and north or the "Old Porter Home". I could then see a plume of smoke coming from the field. At this time, Cpt. Gootee advised radio that he had just saw the helicopter go down while he was at the police garage pumping gas.
I followed the lane behind the County Home and went to the field where I could see the helicopter out in the middle of a soybean field approximately 300 yards west of the lane. While walking to the site, I observed several pieces of the helicopter, including the rear rotor, approximately 100-150 yards from the actual crash scene.
2000-021656-C 08/19/2000 13:24
Upon my arrival at the scene, partially outside the helicopter. to several head trauma injuries. passengers. I advised other responding units of the situation, at which point a common post could be set up at the County Home.
Lake County Eagle 2 responded for an air check of the field. Valparaiso Fire, Valparaiso Police and South Haven Civil inlere activated for assistance. Several people from Peterson Pontiac and Grieger Motors were also at the scene. that they saw the helicopter go down and ran out to help. them all back to their businesses and asked Valparaiso Police if they could send officers to the businesses and get written statements from them. I then requested a coroner and N.T.S.B. and ? . T . A . were notified and scene was secured.
?hotos were taken by Cpl. Henderson on ground and by this unit in %ir, courtesy of Lake County Police Eagle 2.
darrative by Officer Dobbins
I found Solmos lying on the ground, He appeared to be deceased due I could not locate any other
Cpt. Gootee was off-duty at the Porter County Police fuel pumps near the police garage when he observed a helicopter approximately 100 feet above the ground and 1 / 2 mile North of his location, heading Northwest.
The helicopter made a gutural sound as if the engine was in some kind of distress. There was a short throttle acceleration and almost immediately a very loud pop sound. At that moment, the engine sound stopped and at least two large parts of the helicopter flew off with the body of the craft diving into a clock-wise spiral pattern. Cpt. Gootee watched until the helicopter crashed into a field almost at the same distance that he had first seen the helicopter. There was a small plume of smoke rising into the air, but a treeline prevented direct observation. The entire incident was no more than 5 seconds in duration.
Cpt. Gootee then advised on his police radio what had occurred and requested assistance. Officer Dobbins was immediately at the intersection of Heavlin Rd and SR2 and drove North behind the Porter County Home while Cpt. Gootee drove to the first driveway West of the intersection but was unable to drive to the location of the crash. Cpt. Gootee then went back to the Porter County Home and stood by near the barn to prevent onlookers from going into the field near the crash scene. This location became the staging area and command post once support personnel arrived.
Cpt. Gootee also assisted in the ground search for survivors and evidence. While assisting, Cpt. Gootee observed that the body of the helicopter was laying on it's left side with the victim still inside in the left front seat. The entire tail section with the rear rotor still attached was approximately 2 5 0 feet West of the main body and the main rotor was approximately 2 0 0 feet West of the main body and 50 feet South of the tail section. There also were various parts from what apeared to be the cockpit/windshield as far away as approximately 7 5 0 feet West of the main body.
Cpt. Gootee stayed until 1 5 2 4 hrs and came back out to the scene at 1 7 3 0 hrs to meet NTSB and FAA investigators for a direct witness statement.
On 08-19-00 at approximately 13:24 hours, I responded with other units to the scene of a fatal helicopter crash behind the Porter County Home at 1954 State Road 2. Officer Dobbins was the first person on scene and advised it appeared to be a single occupant fatal, which was later confirmed after a search of approximately 5 acres of the crash scene. Lake County helicopter Eagle 2 assisted in aerial photographs of the scene. Cpl. Henderson was responsible for ground photos, along with securing the scene until N.T.S.B. and F.A.A officials arrived. At 18:21 hours, Todd Fox of N.T.S.B. arrived on scene, along with F.A.A. The scene was turned over to Mr. Fox, as our initial investigation was complete and this department then took on an assisting role to N.T.S.B. was secured for the night with Porter County units guarding the scene until N.T.S.B arrived back on scene at 07:OO on 08-20-00.
3n 08-20-00 at 08:OO hours, Major Snider, Valparaiso Fire, several Dther Volunteer Fire Departments and I arrived on scene and assisted N.T.S.B. in locating evidence at the crash site. At spproximately 11:OO hours, Sandburg’s Towing arrived on scene for the removal of the aircraft. At 12:15 hours, the wreckage was secured at the Porter County Highway Department.
I spoke with Barry Young at 14:15 hours at the Porter County Home. He advised that there are no other motor vehicles around the hanger that Bryan flies out of. Bryan‘s hanger was locked. He also stated that Bryan only flies with personal friends and he, Young, is unaware of anyone else being with Bryan. Mr. Young knows that is associated with Bryan’s flying can be accounted for at this time.
Narrative by Reserve Officer Jeremy Bogue
Mr. Everyone that
0-021656-C 08/19/2000 13:24
Page 8 p t revt .c 1 . 4 1 Date Printed: 08/21/2000 -
MISC. INFORMATION
Valparaiso Police Department - UNIFORM OFFENSE REPORT 00-18721
COMPLAINT NO. CONTINUATION SHEET
1
4. PAGE OF REMARKS 1 I I 1
WHILE ON PQTROL I RESPONDED TO JDC -ro QSSIST PORTER COUNTY IN TRYING
TO LOCRTE Q HELICOPTER THAT HRD CRRSHED IN THEFIREFI. WHILE FIT JDC I SPOKE
WITH THREE PEOPLE WHO WITNESSED THE INCIDENT.
THE F I R S T PERSON I SPOKE WITH WAS L E 9 TUREIN ( 6 4 3 3 GRAND RUE, HGMMOND, ~
I N 219-614-4548). FSCCORDING TO LES, HE WRS FIT FETLRS WHEN HE HERRD R
HELICOPTER THQT D I D NOT SOUND RIGHT. LES STRTED THFST HE THEN LOOKED IN THE
R I R RND NOTICED THRT THERE WERE PIECES O F THE HELICOPTER FLYING OFF I T .
LES STFSTED THRT HE D I D NOT HECiR ANY EXPLOSION OR SEE RNY FLFIMES FROM THE
HELICOPTER. LES STRTED THQT THE HELICOFITER THEN WENT DOWN OVER THE F I E L D
EEIi IND JDC.
THE SECONn F‘ERSQN I SPClKE U I T H WRS RACI-IEL TURFIN (6433 GRRND RVE,
I-iRMMOND, I N 213-6 j ,4-4545) . ACCORDING TO RBCHEL, SHE WAS RT FETLRS WHEN SHE
HEARD FI STRWGE 50UNU I N THE SKY. RACHEL DESCRIBED THE SOUND FiS THRT OF R
CliOPFY SOUND. t?!XIiEL STGTED TIiAT 5% L U O i i E O IJF’ W E SGW G HELICOPTER.
~ ~ ~~~~ ~
I THRT THE t.IELICUF-‘TER WENT DOWN F\S THE F I E L D DIRECTLY BEHIND J D C .
THE T H I R D PERSUN I SPOKE WITH MAS ANITR WOUCLAND i S R 2 - 3@1ZIS, HERRON,
I N 219-9GL3--3747). W00DLRlrlD RELFITED THRT SHE WRS I N THE RREA OF THE F’EJHTER
COUNTY HOME WHEN SHE WITNESSED THE INCIDENT. WOODLRND STATED THAT S,LJE
NOTICED QN FIIRCRQFT IN THE RIR. WOODLQND THOUGHT SHE MRY HflVE HEFIRD RN
Valparaiso Police Department - UNIFORM OFFENSE REPORT 88-187~1
NA~5PFscpM~?!YT COMPLAINT NO. CONTINUATION SHEET
4. YGE OF L
.... RND THRT WHEN THE MRIN PIECE O F THE RIRCRRFT FELL TO THE GROUND I T
TURNED UPSIDE RS IT FELL. WOODLRND STRTED THRT THE RIRCRRFT FELL I N THE
REMARKS. 2
RRER O F THE PORTER COUNTY HOME.
I N SPERKING WITH R GROUP OF UNKNOWN PEOPLE I N THE RRER O F JDC I T WRS
LEFIRNED THqT THEY OESERUED R HELICOPTER I N THE SKY. THE PEOPLE STRTED THFST ~ ~ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~~ ~~ ___ ~~
THE HELICOPTER D I D NOT SOUND RIGHT RND THRT I T FIPPEARED TO POSSIBLY HRUE A
LRRGE GROUP O F BIRDS FIROUND I T WHEN I T SOUNDED STRRNGE. THE GROUP O F
PEDPLE STRTED THRT THERE WAS FI LOT OF DEBRIS RND POSSIBLY BIRDS FRLLING
FROM THE RREFS O F THE HELICOPTER PEFORE I T WENT DOWN. THE GROUP STGTED THAT
THEY THOUGHT THE HELICOPTER WENT DOWN I N THE F I E L D EEtiIND JDC FIND THE
PORTER CCIUNTY HOME. THE GROUP STRTET) THRT THEY D I D NOT HEAR ANY EXPLOSION
EEFClRE THE HELICOPTER WEhIT DOWN.
PTRL. NICi-IELLE WILSON # X i
PORTER COUNTY SHERIFF’S POLICE
CASENO. 2 I
omER SIGNATURE BADGE No
PORTER COUNTY SHERIFF'S POLICE 2 l 6 . X 0 NARRATIVE
n WRITEN STATEMENT CASE NO.
READ AND SIGN; I, THE UNDERSIGNED, DECIARE THAT THE ABOVE WRITTEN STATEMENT IS MADE OF MY OWN FREE WLL AND THAT ,THE FACTS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE TRUE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE.
SIGNATURE . x 7 (PRINT)
U\LQ\P \ L r = i \ C w I TELEPHONNO.
PORTER COUNTY SHERIFF’S POLICE CASENO. Gb-- 2 I 6.62
I
I.
1
b ‘A
PORTER COUNTY SHERIFF’S POLWE CASENO. DO 21 6S h
D AND SIGN I, THE UNDERSIGNED, DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE W l l T E N STATEMENT IS MADE OF MY OWN FREE WLL AND THAT THE FACTS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE TRUE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE.
SACGE No ME I
OFFtCER SIGNANRE
PORTER COUNTY SHERIFF'S POLICE QWlC,%
0 NARRATIVE 0 WRll lEN STATEMENT CASE NO.
D AND SIGN; I , THE UNDERSIGNED, DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE WRllTEN STATEMENT IS MADE OF MY OWN FREE \MU AND T M T .THE FACTS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE TRUE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE. A NAME (wum SIGNATUE
AUJRESS v TELEWNE No %
9 12 1 / - % 0 0 - ? ? 6 ( 7 ? 7
D AND SIGN; I , THE UNDERSIGNED, DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE WRllTEN STATEMENT IS MADE OF MY OWN FREE \MU AND T M T ,THE FACTS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE TRUE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE. A NAME PRIM 1 ISIGNATUE/ /
OFFICER SIGNAllRE "E No. MTE I I 1
PORTER COUNTY SHERIFF’S POLICE I3 NARRATIVE 0 WRllTEN STATEMENT CASE NO. 0 I 6.6
F A D AND SIGN; I, THE UNDERSIGNED, DECIARE THAT THE ABOVE WRITEN STATEMENT IS MADE OF MY OWN FREE WLL AND THAT .THE FACTS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE TRUE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE.
SIGNATURE
TELEPHON No. x YL7-77
j . 3 3< &/- qm /(I- ~ n / h e ~ t . r C I ~ J ZU ADORES
PORTER COUNTY SHERIFF'S POLICE CASE NO. DO- 2 I65 6
LEAD AND SIGN; I, THE UNDERSIGNED, DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE WRITTEN STATEMENT IS MADE OF MY OWN FR HE FACTS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE TRUE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE. A n n /
I
,+ 2 / Y > . v AME (PRINT) SIGNAN
T J a A I x &?&4U@/ */ TELEPHONENO r/M,YNA E 1.
1 3 3 T L Y J J , Y DORESd
PORTER COUNTY SHERIFF’S POLICE NARRATIVE WRllTEN STATEMENT CASE NO. 8 o 21 656
I I
RFAD AND SlGk I , THE UNDERSIGNED, DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE WRllTEN STATEMENT IS MADE OF MY OWN FREE WLL AND THAT , THE FACTS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE TRUE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE.
AL4.J 21. a9 R / i lOLAn ,C) I s I w N ~ e ? & /t~&,:/J NAME-WNT) x
TELEPHONE No ADORES _ T K 8 -G‘ ,TU 2&(3 L U F L j 7 - ,AL 30
PORTER COUNTY SHERIFF’S POLICE NARRATIVE
0 WRITTEN STATEMENT CASENO. UO 21 6SG
READ AND SIGN; I, THE UNDERSIGNED, DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE WRITTEN STATEMENT IS MADE OF MY OWN FREE WILL AND THAT THE FACTS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE TRUE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE. A
w m w - SIGNATU
x f TEEPK)
/% Id &rry AOORESS
fZs---fi /y% &&k+ & 1 7/7-%J5-/873 O m a R SIGNATURE i
PORTER COUNTY SHERIFF'S POLICE 0 NARRATIVE
WRIITEN STATEMENT CASE NO. 00 -2 /($5,4
I
AND SIGN I, THE UNDERSIGNED, DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE WRllTEN STATEMENT IS MADE OF MY OWN FREE WlLL AND THAT THE FACTS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE TRUE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE. NAME SIGNA E r k N k q e r x
I OFFICER SIGNA- I
PORTER COUNTY SHERIFF'S POLICE 0 NARRATIVE JZ. WRITTEN STATEMENT CASE NO. 002-1 6 5 6
RFAD AND SIGW I, THE UNDERSIGNED, DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE WRITTEN STATEMENT IS MADE OF MY OWN FREE WlLL AND THAT ,THE FACTS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE TRUE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE. NAME (PRINI)
TELEPHONENO 29 Q & ? /
SIGNA B m O f ? S f i 4 U x I
ADORES
1 OFFICER SIGNANRE I
PORTER COUNTY SHERIFF'S POLICE 002/656 0 NARRATIVE
p WRllTEN STATEMENT CASE NO.
"E (PRINT)
~ L G J')),+~.J :;bk> jN 6 t
mntt;W
I OFFICER S'GNATUiE I I Y/iQ I m. I
Witness Report for the Helicopter Accident 08/19/00
Allison Luedtke & Becky Hernandez We were at 1553 Maume Drive in Heritage Valley the phone number here is 462-3712 or you can reach us at work fiom 5 p.m to 9 p.m Saturday also fiom 10 a.m to 10 p.m on Sunday. The time of the helicopter accident was between 1 :45 p.m and 2:OO p.m. We were on the back deck when we noticed a helicopter descending in the air. We thought maybe the engines blew and the helicopter was making an emergency landing in the field. Within a split second the helicopter’s back end broke off &om the fiont of the helicopter. Both parts came crashing to the ground, we noticed smoke, dust, or something of the sort rising up fiom the ground as the front part of the helicopter was flipping. Also, parts of the helicopter were flying off as it was flipping on the ground. Once the helicopter came to a halt, some neighbors ran inside to call the police as others ran out in the field. At that moment we heard sirens. The police arrived moments later at the sight along with the neighbors. If there are any other questions, feel free to contact us. After Sunday we will no longer be at this address. However if you need to get ahold of us, here is are numbers. Allison Luedtke (21 9) 942-0067 Becky Hernandez (2 19)840-0240
d-
w -
ID P
c
I affirm under the penalties for perjury that the above and foregoing statement and representation and facts are totally true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
DATE: SIGNATURE: WITNESS SIGNATURE:
PAGE #
CASE #
DATE:
i
c
I affirm under the penalties for perjury that the above and foregoing statement and representatfon and facts are totally true and correct to the best of m knowledge and belief.
-1 2 DATE: 3 la/ SIGNATURE:
WITNESS SIGNATURE:
Porter County Sheriffs Police 157 S. Frmklin S#. Wtlparaiso IN 46383 Public Info. Officer Tim Emmons
(219) 465-1515 pager- (219) 983-7093
MEDtA RELEASE DATE augttst 19,2000
HELICOPTER CRASH
The Perter €wnty SBeriffsDep(. ~e-wa helicopter crash at 1:24 p.m. today. The scene of the crash was a soybean field located approx, one quarter mile we& e€ %ate R4.2 a d sex. me half mile south of US Hwy. 30.
Porter County Sheriff's Capt. Bud Gootee was off-duty near the scene of the crash a d was t t w h e s t o t k k k e r crash. €:apt. Geetee indicated he heard the helicopter and believed the engine sounded in distress. He then heard an explosive sotad a d &sewed the W e p t e r spin4 tewads&e grsund as pieces of the craft were thrown from it. Officer Gootee also advised the aircraft was low to the gretrrrd, appmx. IW feet irr the air, when Be fir& & x m d it, Several other nearby residents also observed the aircraft prior to the crash and gave similar statements to police.
Respendkg e ~ ~ ~ g e n c y ~ F S O ~ ~ I K I - & X ~ Y ~ F ~ E ~ - ~ ~ akc&on its left side with the pilot still strapped inside. The pilot, a 44-year-old Valparaiso resident, was killed when the W w r impacted with the gmud. TbePwter County Sheriff's Dept., Valparaiso Police Dept., Valparaiso Fire Dept., Conservation Officers from the Indiana De@. e€ "d Resetrrces, a d a t e d k s - b the Pvrter Memorial Hospital Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene. The helicopter was a 1969 FttkBikZ H 2 k , -1 F€€&&W, had €ew seats, and was owed by the pilot. There were no passengers in the helicopter when it crashed and no one on the ground was i+red. The= was w BFe cw e x p k h ~ wka- tihe hekcopter impacted on the ground. The main rotor was located in the soybean field approx. 200 feet from the he4ke-r am# $Be mar ret= was leeateti -ex. @@&et from the helicopter. Pieces of the helicopter were strewn throughout the field in an approx. 1,5000 foot &seerthe& e€ the scene w k m the &FA% impacktxl, which indicated parts were thrown from the craft prior to striking the ground.
The helicepkr le# the Porter €m@ MunkipaLAIqxstJocated on US 30 east of Valparaiso, just minutes prior to the crash. The scene of the crash is approx. 2 ~nilesswthwe&eftheairpo& Therewwnc-ddkatioaat this time that the pilot reported any difficulties prior to the crash. The FAA and NTSB were notified of the crash itad areen-mwtetetheseette. Thefield at theerashscene is owned by Porter Cwnty and was farmed by Tim Stoner, a Kouts resident.
40- 1872 1 V a l p " Police Department
UNIFORM OFFENSE REPORT
13 DATE AND TIME OCCURRED OR DISCOVERED 14 OAT€ AND TIME REPORTED
00/ 19 /la0 1325 @8/ 1 9 /a8 1325
FlSSIST O / J
CRIM.INV. 0 26 REOUESTLO
CORONER c] AMB. 0 TOW 0 NCICCK 0 APBRADIO 0 T.TYPE 0 5 CRIME OR ACCIDENT 16 CLASSIFICATION
OTHER iJ STOLEN IJ RECOW c] LV SCENE 1 7 LICENSE STATE NUMBER m PLATE TYPE Y E A R (EXP I 29 VEHICLE I o NUMBER
E A a A N O 0 IMPOUND 0 OTHER c] USED IN CnIME I I
31 MOOEL 32 STYLE 33 COLOR (TOP BOTTOM1 34 INSURANCE CO " '10 VEHICLE MAKEIVEAR I C /
'38 OWNERSNAME . 36 OWNER'S ADDRESS 37 TOWED TO OR HELD AT E S
40 BOOKING NO 41 ALIAS I o ARREST c] 39 NAME (LAST. FIRST MIDDLE1
p c] MISSING c] WARRANT
R WARRANTNO U ADDRESS u S E X 45 RACE 46 AGE 4 7 0 0 0 48 HEIGHT
S Oh4 0 OF
E c] SUSPECT 0 SUMMONS
N '4s SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS OR DESCRIPTION (INCLUDING CLOTHINGI 52 HAIR 53 EYES
S
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dacribod vehicle or merchandise. I am the owner or person who was legally in possession of the described vehicle or merchandise. I will testify in court under oath to the facts hemin. I understand that I may be criminally charged for filing a false report.
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INDIANA 46383
CHIEF OF POLICE
(219) 462-2135 FAX (21 9) 477-4767
August 2 1,2000
NTSB Todd Fox
On August 19,2000, at 1325 hours I was at Westside Park when I observed a helicopter travelmg, what appeared to be southwest. It was traveling more west than south. The helicopter was flying level when, all of a sudden, it nosed down and then pulled up lporpoised. This repeated again. By this time the helicopter had slowed its forward motion. The helicopter then pulled up suddenly and rotated to its left (pilot) side and appeared to rotate completely upside down. Due to the angle I could not be sure. The helicopter then rotated back to the passenger’s side towards the normal position. While doing this, the helicopter came abruptly down to about a forty-five degree angle. This is when the rotor blade broke off; and as this was occurring, there was a 4 to 5 foot diameter fireball near the top or where the rotor comes out of the helicopter. The helicopter then rotated to the pilot’s side and went straight down towards the ground. The sound of the helicopter appeared normal until it started to pull up suddenly.
