More detail on this person: Copter Crashes Near Jacksonville; 3 Killed
JACKSONVILLE (AP) - A giant Marine Corps CH-46D Sea Knight helicopter crashed on a dirt road
southwest of Jacksonville Friday, killing all three crewmen and narrowly missing several homes. It
was the second disaster involving helicopters from the New River Marine Air Facility this year. In
June, 22 Marines died when two helicopters collided over a runway. Friday's crash occurred at 11:05
a.m. on a routine training flight. It was eight miles west of the New River base, which is six
miles south of Jacksonville.
The dead were identified as Maj. Hugh Cameron, 34, Hayworth, N.J., and Maj. Lynn M. Ackerman, 34,
Chicago, pilots and Lance Cpl. Walter D. Ogrean, 22, crew chief. An investigation was underway to
determine the cause of the crash.
All three were from the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 162 based at New River. A witness said he
heard the aircraft "making a sputtering noise" as if it had engine trouble. Another said smoke came
from the helicopter as it fell. There was no fire after the crash. The helicopter rolled over on
its side after falling and completely blocked the road. Its body split from top to bottom.
There was speculation the pilot was trying to reach an open field nearby. Several tall pine trees
beside the road were clipped. The aircraft fell within 150 yards of nine dwellings and only 100
feet from one of them. Sea Knight helicopters are used extensively by the Marines in Vietnam. They
were grounded for 90 days this year because of difficulty in the tail section. The helicopters are
capable of carrying 22 combat troops in addition to the pilot, co-pilot and crew chief.
Burial information: Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, FL
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 08/31/2024
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