HOUSTON — The owners of the radio tower hit by a helicopter near downtown Houston Sunday night have released a statement on the deadly crash.
The crash happened along Navigation Boulevard near North Ennis Street in the Second Ward. The helicopter was coming from Ellington Airport, but its final destination remains unclear.
In a news conference Monday, the National Transportation Safety Board confirmed the helicopter didn't have a flight data recorder and wasn't required to.
Four people onboard the R44 aircraft, including a child, died in the crash. Their identities have not been released.
Family of the victims told KHOU 11 News they're in shock and still trying to process what happened to their loved ones.
According to a company spokesperson, SBA Communications recently acquired the tower. It was previously owned in part by Univision and sold in a transaction with several other towers in September.
SBA manages transmission towers in several other countries.
"We are in the process of cooperating with authorities on a full investigation. This is a tragic incident, and we ask everyone to please keep the deceased and their families in their thoughts and prayers," the company said in the statement.
An FAA notice issued on Oct. 17 references a potential obstruction to lights on the radio tower. In surveillance video that captures the crash, it appears there was at least one flashing light on the tower that was operational.
An SBA spokesperson said the company had no knowledge of any issues with the tower’s lighting.
They added that after SBA acquired the tower, company leaders ensured a NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) was in place for this site in order to "exercise caution during the change of ownership while we integrate the site into our Network Operations Center (NOC) for continuous 24/7 monitoring pursuant to FAA and FCC regulations."
NOTAMs are issued to inform pilots of work notices, potential hazards or changes.
SBA said while a federal investigation is ongoing, it is limited on what information can be disclosed. More information will be provided when it is available, according to the company.
In air traffic control audio transmissions obtained by KHOU 11 News, you can hear the moment someone inside the small aircraft makes initial contact with air traffic controllers at Hobby Tower. In the transmissions, you hear the helicopter pilot ask the tower to fly at 600 feet near downtown.
That 600 feet altitude is significantly lower than the tower the helicopter would eventually crash into. The tower stood at 999 feet above ground, according to FCC records.
The FCC identified the radio stations that operated from the tower as:
- KLTN(FM), Houston, TX, 102.9 MHz
- KAMA-FM, Deer Park, TX, 104.9 MHz
- KOVE-FM, Galveston, TX, 106.5 MHz
- KCOH(AM), Houston, TX, 1230 kHz
The NTSB said additional team members would arrive Tuesday to assist with the investigation.
"It's a pretty complex scene and meticulous how we approach it," said NTSB Air Safety Investigator Brian Rutt.
The NTSB's goal along with the FAA, is to piece together the details of how this tragic incident occurred.
"This plane doesn’t have a flight data recorder and it's not required to. We are searching for other devices that contain data that we can use," Rutt said.
Witness reports and statements can be sent to witness@ntsb.gov.
Read the full statement from SBA Communications below:
"Late in the evening on Sunday, October 20, 2024, we were made aware of a tragic incident that occurred at one of our newly acquired tower sites in the Houston area.
"Our understanding is that a guyed tower was struck by a private helicopter, resulting in the death of four individuals who were on-board.
"We are in the process of cooperating with authorities on a full investigation. This is a tragic incident, and we ask everyone to please keep the deceased and their families in their thoughts and prayers.
"While reviewing the coverage of the event, we have noticed that there has unfortunately been some incomplete and/or inaccurate information provided.
"We hope that what is provided below, which addresses a primary topic of discussion, will provide clarity and correction to some of these inaccuracies.
"Questions have been raised regarding the filing of a NOTAM for the cell tower in Houston. We would like to provide a clear perspective of what this entails.
"NOTAMs (Notice to Air Missions) with the FAA are to inform pilots of work notices, potential hazards, or changes that may impact their flight. These types of notifications are to provide pilots information and direction to be cautious of a specific location and may be filed for a variety of reasons.
"This specific site was recently acquired by SBA on September 6, 2024. As part of our standard process for newly acquired sites, SBA ensured a NOTAM was in place for this site in order to exercise caution during the change of ownership while we integrate the site into our Network Operations Center (NOC) for continuous 24/7 monitoring pursuant to FAA and FCC regulations.
"As this is an ongoing investigation led by federal officials, we are limited in the information we can disclose at this time. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available."
Watch the full update from the NTSB: