Thu, Jan 19, 2006
First Criminal Case Involving Helo Accident In State
History
Not guilty. That's the
plea from a Hawaiian helicopter pilot who appeared in court Tuesday
on manslaughter charges related to an accident that claimed the
lives of three people last year.
Glen Lampton was at the controls of a Heli USA tour helicopter
that went down during heavy rain on September 23. In the days
following the accident, Aero-News reported Lampton
told investigators he believed the Eurocopter
AS350 encountered wind shear, which led to the downing near
Kauai's Ke'e Beach.
Lampton -- the first pilot in Hawaii's history to stand trial
for criminal charges in a helicopter accident -- is also
accused of reckless endangerment, providing a false statement and
tampering with evidence. Trial is set for July 26, according to
media reports.
Killed in the accident were Catherine Baron and Mary Soucy of
Portland, ME, and Wisconsin resident Laverne Clifton. Two other
passengers survived the crash.
After his plea, Lampton posted $100,000 bond. He has also asked
the court to allow him to travel back and forth to his home in Las
Vegas, NV.
According to the NTSB Preliminary Report on the accident,
Lampton told investigators he had checked the ATIS from the nearest
airport, Lihue (PHLI) which reported no adverse weather. Other
helicopter pilots told investigators the weather had been building
in the area for several hours prior to the accident flight, and had
to amend their flights to remain clear of the clouds and rain.
There were no reports of turbulence or wind shear associated
with the storm, according to the preliminary report.
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