Helicopter Accidents

This page documents U.S. Air Force helicopter accidents. If you have any information to contribute, please contact us.

HH-3E
Elmendorf AFB, AK
7 Dec 1974

S/N 69-5807

An USAF HH-3E assigned to the 5040th Helicopter Squadron at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, crewed by 1st Lt. Edward Solomon (P), 1st Lt. Tim Mason (CP), Sgt. Flanner (FE), Shorty Mutchler (PJ) and SSgt. Dave Headley (RS), crashed at Portage Pass, about 45 miles south east of Anchorage, Alaska, while attempting to land at a small plane crash site. As the HH-3E came to a hover it encountered a ‘white out’ condition and it crashed, drifting backwards, with the impact causing the rotor blades to chop through the cockpit, killing Lt. Solomon. The remaining crew members were rescued.

~Source~
Thomas Hooper email 07 March 2016

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