NEWTON COUNTY, Texas — The NTSB is investigating a helicopter crash that claimed the life of a 51-year-old Mississippi man Friday afternoon in Newton County.
Jason Wimberly, 51, of Jackson, Miss., was piloting a Bell OH-58A Kiowa helicopter, outfitted for agricultural spraying, just off County Road 2048 near FM1414 in Newton County when the crash happened at about 1:30 p.m., according to news release from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
An NTSB investigator arrived the morning after the crash to begin documenting the crash scene and examining the wreckage of the helicopter, according to an NTSB spokesperson.
Preliminary showed the crash happened during an "herbicide refueling operation," according to the spokesperson.
The helicopter has been moved to a "secure location" to be further examined and evaluated the spokesperson told 12News.
During its investigation the NTSB will gather records and information such as...
- Flight track data
- Recordings of any air traffic control communications
- Aircraft maintenance records
- Weather forecasts and actual weather and lighting conditions around the time of the accident
- Pilot’s license, ratings and recency of flight experience
- 72-hour background of the pilot to determine if there were any issues that could have affected the pilot’s ability to safety operate the flight
- Witness statements
- Electronic devices that could contain information relevant to the investigation
- Any available surveillance video, including from doorbell cameras
Any witnesses to the crash or anyone that has video or information relevant to the investigation is asked to contact the NTSB at Witness@NTSB.gov.
The helicopter was nearing it's fueling truck when the crash happened, according to the DPS.
"The pilot was not from the local area, but we still lost someone today and it's sad," said Newton County Sheriff Robert Burby.
A person standing next to the fuel truck was injured when they were hit by the helicopter’s landing skids. They were taken to Jasper Memorial Hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The Bell helicopter, tail number N199BD, was built in 2008 and is owned by Callaway Land Management in Lumberton, according to FAA records.
Multiple agencies were called in to help, according to Burby.
"Trout Creek was there, so was Newton Volunteer Fire Department, Burkeville Volunteer Fire Department and Bon Wier Volunteer Fire Department," Burby said.
Troopers secured the scene, but the FAA is lead agency and the National Transportation Safety Board are lead the investigators.
One person dead after Newton County helicopter crash
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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