Accident Summary
On August 8, 2009, at 1153:14 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-300 airplane, registration N71MC, and a Eurocopter AS350BA helicopter, registration N401LH, collided over the Hudson River near Hoboken, New Jersey. The collision resulted in the deaths of the pilot and two passengers aboard the airplane and the pilot and five passengers aboard the helicopter. Both aircraft sustained substantial damage from the impact.
Aircraft Involved
The airplane involved was a Piper PA-32R-300, a single-engine fixed-wing aircraft. The helicopter was a Eurocopter AS350BA, operated by Liberty Helicopters. Both aircraft were destroyed in the collision.
Operations and Conditions
The airplane was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, while the helicopter was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Parts 135 and 136. No flight plans were filed or were required for either flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.