ELKO AIR AMBULANCE CRASH KILLS 4

The aviation accident lawyers at Bohrer & Lukeman are monitoring the crash of a fixed wing air ambulance in Elko, Nevada on Friday, November 18. The emergency service aircraft was carrying a heart disease patient to a hospital in Utah when it crashed in a parking lot, killing all four people onboard. The aviation accident attorneys at Bohrer & Lukeman are closely following the events surrounding this general aviation accident.

CNN affiliate KRNV reported that the Piper PA 31 twin engine aircraft had just taken off from Elko Regional Airport and was headed to Salt Lake City, Utah when it crashed in the parking lot of a mining company in Elko, Nevada. Allen Kenitzer of the FAA Office of Communications stated that the cause of the airplane crash was unknown at this time.

Lt. Rich Genseal of the Elko police claimed that the American Medflight air ambulance appears to have “experienced mechanical problems” shortly after take-off, causing it to lose altitude and crash.

Elko Fire Chief Matt Griego stated, “There was not a lot left of the aircraft.”

The twin-engine airplane caused multiple explosions when the crash occurred, killing its patient and three crewmembers. The Elko Police Department has identified the victims as patient Edward Clohesey, pilot Yuji Irie, and medical staff Jake Shepherd and Tiffany Urresti.

The explosions caused several vehicles to catch fire in the parking lot of the Barrick Gold Corp. mining company. According to the Elko Daily Free Press, the flames were visible from neighboring locations, including a senior housing complex, casino, and motel.

American Medflight released a statement late Friday night asking for patience with the investigation process and to honor the privacy of the family members and co-workers affected by the accident.

“We are cooperating fully with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration as they investigate the accident,” read the statement.

This is at least the third emergency air ambulance flight to result in a fatal crash since March, when a medical helicopter crashed in Coffee County, Alabama, killing all four passengers. In July, a Piper Cheyenne crashed in Northern California, killing three crew members and one patient.

Abram I. “Abe” Bohrer, an airplane crash lawyer at Bohrer & Lukeman, has closely followed the air ambulance industry and lamented about its safety record in the past. “Air ambulance crashes in this country are becoming all too common, said Bohrer. “These pilots log long hours, in poor weather conditions and challenging terrain. But more disturbingly, their management is pushing them to fly in conditions where the motivation is revenue. Whenever profit trumps air safety, the outcome is devastating.”

The aviation accident attorneys at the Bohrer & Lukeman law firm will closely monitor any developments associated with the investigation by the NTSB and FAA.

The New York-based law firm has 25 years of experience in general aviation, airplane crash, and aircraft accident law. Firm founder Abe Bohrer is an aircraft accident lawyer with an extensive understanding of airplane crash litigation. He has successfully represented countless clients involved in airplane crashes and airplane accidents, domestically and internationally.

The aircraft crash law firm is knowledgeable in airplane, airline, and aviation accidents, as well as air ambulance incidents.

The airplane accident law firm will update its website at www.flightinjury.com with any updates from the Elko air ambulance crash.