TV STATION HELI UNKNOWINGLY ENTERS A TEMPORARY FLT RESTR AREA AND TELEVISES A TRAIN WRECK FOR PUBLIC VIEWING.
Synopsis
TV STATION HELI UNKNOWINGLY ENTERS A TEMPORARY FLT RESTR AREA AND TELEVISES A TRAIN WRECK FOR PUBLIC VIEWING.
Narrative
I RECEIVED A WX BRIEF FOR INTENTIONS TO FLY TO TRAIN WRECK APPROX 10 MI N OF LEADVILLE; CO; FROM DENVER. BRIEFING STATED VFR NOT RECOMMENDED ALTHOUGH MANY RPTING STATIONS WERE RPTING 1800 FT CEILINGS WITH 5 MI VISIBILITY. RPTS OF MODERATE TURB AND ICING IN CLOUDS. NO MENTION OF ANY TFR'S (TEMP FLT RESTRS). I HAVE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN THE COLORADO MOUNTAINS AND DECIDED TO TRY TO FLY TO THE TRAIN WRECK SITE. FLT CONDITIONS ENRTE WERE 10 MI VISIBILITY WITH CEILINGS OF 15000 FT WITH SOME MOUNTAIN OBSCUREMENT. AFTER ARRIVING AT THE TRAIN WRECK SITE; A MIL UH-1 HELI WAS CIRCLING LOW OVER THE WRECKAGE. I DID NOT HAVE ANY WAY TO CONTACT THE UH-1 VIA RADIO; SO I CIRCLED AT APPROX 2000 FT AGL UNTIL THE UH-1 HELI DEPARTED THE AREA TO THE NE. I DSNDED TO APPROX 200 FT AGL CIRCLING THE WRECKAGE FOR VIDEO FOOTAGE FOR APPROX 3 MINS. LCL CONDITIONS WERE WINDS 080 DEGS AT APPROX 30-40 KTS; 10+ VISIBILITY. I IMMEDIATELY DEPARTED THE AREA TO THE E FOR THE RETURN FLT TO DENVER. AFTER LNDG IN DENVER; I WAS INFORMED THAT SOME PEOPLE WHO WORKED FOR THE RAILROAD WERE UPSET WITH OUR CIRCLING OF THE WRECKAGE. I WAS NEVER BRIEFED ON A TFR NOR DID FSS KNOW IF OR WHEN A TFR WAS POSTED. I NEVER ENDANGERED ANYONE ON THE GND OR IN THE AIR. I USED GOOD SOUND JUDGEMENT DURING THE FLT. I FEEL THE RAILROAD WAS JUST EMBARRASSED TO GET FOOTAGE OF THEIR TRAIN WRECK ON TELEVISION AND TRIED TO PREVENT ME FROM DOING MY JOB OF INFORMING THE PUBLIC.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.