What happened
On July 27, 2007, at approximately 12:46 mountain standard time, two electronic news gathering (ENG) helicopters were maneuvering in the vicinity of Phoenix, Arizona. Both aircraft, N613TV and N215TV, were engaged in covering an active police pursuit.
The first aircraft, a Eurocopter AS350B2 operated by KTVK-TV, was occupied by a pilot-reporter and a photographer. The second aircraft, also a Eurocopter AS350B2 operated by U.S. Helicopters, Inc. under contract to KNXV-TV, carried a pilot-reporter and a photographer.
During their maneuvers, the two helicopters collided in midair. The impact forces and subsequent postcrash fire resulted in 4 fatal injuries, as all occupants on both aircraft were killed. At the time of the accident, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and both helicopters were operating under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plans had been filed for either aircraft.