Investigators say fog likely cause of crash

WEDNESDAY’S fatal helicopter crash was probably caused by the pilot straying from his planned route in foggy weather.

Officials from the Department of Transport’s air accident investigation unit yesterday began their investigation of the crash near Dingle, Co Kerry, in which 42-year-old pilot David Reid died.

Having re-fuelled at Kerry Airport just after 6.30pm on Wednesday, the jet Bell Ranger helicopter took off for Tralee Races where some passengers who had been flown from Dublin earlier in the day were to be picked up.

However, it ploughed into Strickeen Mountain, less than 1,000ft above sea level, at Lisdargan, Lispole, 25 miles west of Tralee, at around 7pm.

The area was covered by a dense fog and drizzle, with visibility down to a matter of metres. Local people told of hearing the helicopter circling round the area for some minutes prior to a loud bang, then silence before the aircraft burst into flames.

The body of Mr Reid, an experienced pilot and a father-of-two from Blackhorse Avenue, Dublin, was found in the burnt-out wreck, with debris being strewn over a wide area. His remains were taken to Tralee General Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Locals, clearly shocked by the experience, told of how they raced to the scene. Patrick Garvey said: “I’d say it was about 6.50pm when I heard a bang on the mountain. We could see nothing with the fog and my brother John Joe and I got into the van and rushed as fast as we could towards the mountain.

“After about 20 minutes we heard a bang like a bullet, looked up, and saw a light. We ran towards the light and saw the helicopter which was completely burnt out.

“A mobile phone was on the ground about 20 yards from the wreckage. The phone was ringing and I answered it. A man at Tralee Races who was waiting to be picked up was on the line. He was shocked when I told him what had happened.’’

Colleagues of Mr Reid spoke yesterday of his competence as a pilot and expressed their surprise at the circumstances in which the accident occurred.

One pilot friend who declined to be named said the Dingle area was notorious for fog and the helicopter’s instrument panel would have been of little use.

It is understood Mr Reid had more than 15 years experience as a pilot and shared ownership of the aircraft with two other men.

The probe into the crash is headed by Kevin Humphreys, chief inspector of the Department of Transport’s air accident investigation unit, who was assisted by four other officials at the scene yesterday.

The last fatal helicopter crash in the area was in Dingle Harbour in May 1992, resulting in the death of Siobhan Casey, 22, from Sligo. There was also a non-fatal crash in the making of the Tom Cruise film Far and Away, near Dunquin, in September 1991.