More detail on this person: Waterman
Mountains site of wreck. Pilot killed, 3
passengers injured in helicopter crash near Tucson
Fernanda Echavarri, Arizona Daily Star Arizona
Daily Star | Posted: Monday, January 31, 2011
11:40 am
Dean Knuth/Arizona Daily Star
Three people remained trapped in a Pima County
Sheriff's Department helicopter that crashed late
this morning in the mountains northwest of Tucson,
officials said. One person was killed and three
were injured late Monday morning when a Pima
County Sheriff's Department helicopter crashed
into the side of a mountain northwest of Tucson,
officials said.
Loren Leonberger, a civilian pilot for the
sheriff's department with several years of
experience, was killed in the crash. The
four-person helicopter crew was scouting an area
in the Ironwood National Forest for possible
locations for radio communication towers when one
of the passengers reported the aircraft had
crashed about 11:30 a.m., said Chief Rick
Kastigar, of the sheriff's department. The crash
occurred on the side of the Waterman Mountains
west of Picture Rocks. The closest intersection is
at West Avra Valley and North Waterman Mountain
roads.
Three of the four passengers were taken from the
crash site to University Medical Center about 2
p.m. The full extent of their injuries is unknown,
but officials said earlier Monday that one of the
survivors had life-threatening injuries. About
2:30 p.m. officials confirmed that the fourth
passenger had died in the crash. Rescuers
escorted Leonberger's body from the mountain. A
fire rescue vehicle lead by motorcycle officers
and a squad car took Leonberger from the scene
about 3 p.m. Leonberger spent much of his life
flying helicopters.
In February 1969 he entered the U.S. Army and
served in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot from June
1970 to June 1971. He achieved the rank of warrant
officer. Leonberger served as a pilot in the U.S.
Army National Guard from January 1972 to
November 1991. In July 1978, Leonberger became
an officer and a pilot with the Arizona Department
of Public Safety where he served for twenty years,
according to the sheriff's department.
In December 1998 he retired from the state DPS Air
Rescue Unit and became a pilot with the Maricopa
County Sheriff's Office the same year. He joined
the Pima County Sheriff's Department in November
2008.
Leonberger was a state Department of Public
Safety pilot in 1992 in a dramatic rescue in which
he hovered expertly above the crash of Medivac
helicopter that had smashed into a a rocky, snowy
cliff in the Pinaleno Mountains near Safford.
Susan Ben-Asher Newton and Dale Matthews, the
nurse and pilot of the Medivac, were killed.
Glenn Velardi, a medic who survived the crash,
spent the night waiting for rescue.
In dramatic fashion, then-deputy Tom Price and Dr.
Richard Carmona rappelled to Valardi's side. Price
helped Carmona rig himself into a harness with
Velardi. Al Quezada, a DPS flight medic, helped
direct the operation from the helicopter, which
flew Carmona and Velardi, dangling and spinning
from the end of a 75-foot line, to a safe landing
site about a mile away. Carmona went on to
become U.S. Surgeon General.
Leonberger leaves behind a wife and twelve
siblings, the sheriff's department said.
Copyright 2011 Arizona Daily Star.
In Loving Memory of Loren Ellis Leonberger Who
was tragically taken from us on January 31, 2011
in a helicopter accident doing what he loved most.
Loren was born on November 26, 1950 in
Shawneetown, Illinois to the late William and Mary
Leonberger. He is predeceased by sister, Lora
Rhodes. Survived by spouse, Kirby Jean Peterson;
brothers, James (Marge) of Tucson, Orville
(Sylvia), William, Dean, Robert (Robin) all of
Illinois; sister, Linda (Steve) of Illinois;
brother, Marion (Paulette) and sister, Jan both of
Florida; brother, Clyde (Wendy) of British
Columbia. Numerous nieces and nephews also
survive. Loren learned to fly in the Army and
served in Vietnam being awarded the Bronze Star
plus many more Service Ribbons. Loren then
became a pilot for the Az. Dept. of Public Safety
serving for 21 years. During his DPS career Loren
was awarded the Valor Award for his heroic efforts
in rescuing a downed helicopter crew member. After
retiring from DPS, Loren went to work as a
Deputy/Pilot for Maricopa County Sheriff Office
working for ten years. In 2008, Loren went to work
for the Pima County Sheriff Office as Deputy/Pilot
until his tragic death on Monday. In lieu of
flowers, the family suggests donations be made to
the Arizona Highway Patrolman Association's
Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 6253, Phoenix, AZ
85005. Funeral Service 10:00 a.m., Friday,
February 4, 2011 at Calvary Chapel East, 8721 E.
Speedway. Friends may call from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00
p.m., Thursday, February 3, 2011 at BRING'S
BROADWAY CHAPEL, 6910 E. Broadway.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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