Accident
On January 17, 2018, a Bell UH-1H Iroquois helicopter operated by Sapphire Aviation crashed and caught fire east of Raton, New Mexico. The aircraft was traveling from Raton Municipal Airport to a site in Folsom, New Mexico. The crash occurred at approximately 18:00 local time. Six people were on board: the pilot, a pilot-rated passenger, and four passengers. Five occupants were killed, including the pilot, the pilot-rated passenger, and three passengers. The sole survivor, Andra Cobb, was seriously injured. Among the deceased were Zimbabwean politician Roy Bennett and British world record holder Charles Burnett III, who set the land speed record for a steam-powered car in 2009. Andra Cobb, the daughter of pilot-rated passenger Paul Cobb and long-term romantic partner of Charles Burnett, managed to call for help on a cellphone but could not provide the crash location. The wreckage was later located by New Mexico State Police on a ranch 15 miles east of Raton. According to the Albuquerque Journal, the pilot had reported mechanical issues with the helicopter the day before the accident, which were said to have been resolved before the fatal flight.
Aircraft
The aircraft involved was a Bell UH-1H Iroquois, registration N658H, manufacturer serial number 9856. It had previously served with the United States Army as serial number 67-17658 and saw action during the Vietnam War. On May 31, 1969, it crashed at Firebase Eagles Nest. After being returned to the United States, it was repaired and used by the Ohio Army National Guard before being retired to the Firelands Military Museum in Ohio.
Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated the accident. The final report determined the cause to be pilot error, specifically that pilot Coleman Dodd was flying too low. A low therapeutic amount of an antihistamine was detected in his blood, but investigators stated they could not say with certainty that it contributed to his inability to avoid the crash.