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Midair Collision of Two News Helicopters in Phoenix (N613TV)

Phoenix, AZ, US

On July 27, 2007, an Eurocopter AS350-B2 (registration N613TV) was involved in an aviation accident near Phoenix, AZ. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Both pilots' failure to see and avoid the other helicopter. Contributing to this failure was the pilots' responsibility to perform reporting and visual tracking duties to support their station's ENG operation. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered N613TV
Aircraft registered N613TV. Photo: Andrew Caldwell / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On July 27, 2007, two Eurocopter AS350B2 news helicopters collided in midair while covering a police pursuit in Phoenix, Arizona. All four occupants were killed, and both helicopters were destroyed.

Accident Overview

On July 27, 2007, at about 1246 mountain standard time, two electronic news gathering helicopters, registered as N613TV and N215TV, collided in midair over Phoenix, Arizona. Both aircraft were Eurocopter AS350B2 models. N613TV was operated by KTVK-TV (channel 3), and N215TV was operated by U.S. Helicopters, Inc., under contract to KNXV-TV (channel 15). Each helicopter carried a pilot-reporter and a photographer, totaling four occupants. All four were killed, and the helicopters were destroyed by impact forces and a subsequent fire.

Operational Context

The helicopters were maneuvering while covering a police pursuit at the time of the collision. They were operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and no flight plans had been filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

Aftermath

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated the accident and published its report as NTSB/AAR-09/02. The full report is available on the NTSB website.

Midair collision

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 27 Jul 2007 Eurocopter AS350-B2 accident near Phoenix, AZ?

On July 27, 2007, two Eurocopter AS350B2 news helicopters collided in midair while covering a police pursuit in Phoenix, Arizona. All four occupants were killed, and both helicopters were destroyed.

Were there any fatalities in the 27 Jul 2007 Eurocopter AS350-B2 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 4 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 27 Jul 2007 involved an Eurocopter AS350-B2, registration N613TV, at Phoenix, AZ.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Both pilots' failure to see and avoid the other helicopter. Contributing to this failure was the pilots' responsibility to perform reporting and visual tracking duties to support their station's ENG operation. Contributing to the accident was the lack of formal procedures for Phoenix-area ENG pilots to follow…

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20070802X01089. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.