June 20, 2003

The crew of a Mercy Flight helicopter narrowly escaped serious injury when their helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff. The Olean based medevac helicopter, which had just lifted off from the Mercy Flight Heliport in Woodlawn, was enroute to an on-scene medical call in Colden. All three crew members including the pilot Tim Hartnett, flight medic Will Smith and flight nurse Tina Combs were able to walk away from the wreckage. Only Hartnett suffered minor injuries. All three crew members were transported to the Erie County Medical Center for evaluation.

Jeff Hosie, a Big Tree firefighter and employee of Ford Motor Company, witnessed the helicopter crashing into the parking lot of the Ford Stamping Plant. "I was shocked to see the helicopter land in front of my truck" Hosie stated. Hosie quickly ran to the wreckage and helped evacuate the crew from the helicopter. Shortly thereafter, apparatus from the Big Tree and Woodlawn Volunteer Fire Companies arrived on scene. Woodlawn provided an ambulance, heavy rescue and engine while Big Tree provided a mutual-aid rescue-pumper.

Mercy Flight President Doug Baker points out that this is the first crash of a Mercy Flight helicopter in 22 years of service. Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the scene to conduct a crash investigation.