Shuttle Recovery Helicopter Crash 2003

On March 27, 2003, a Bell 407 helicopter involved in the search for Space Shuttle Columbia debris crashed in the Angelina National Forest. Five crew members were aboard the helicopter. There were two fatalities: Texas Forest Service employee Charles Krenek of Lufkin, and Pilot J. “Buzz” Mier of Arizona, were killed in the crash.  Three crew members were treated for injuries at Memorial Medical Center of East Texas in Lufkin: Matt Tschacher, U.S. Forest Service, from South Dakota; Richard Lange, United Space Alliance at Kennedy Space Center of Florida; and Ronnie Dale, based at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center of Florida.

Aviation, Helicopters, Fatality, Non Fire, Helicopter Incident or Accident