KTRK-TV news copter crash claims two lives

The pilot of a helicopter and a news photographer onboard were killed Oct. 13 when the chopper made a severe bank and crashed in Montgomery County, Texas.

Killed were pilot John Downhower, 43, and photographer Dave Garrett, 36. Both men were aboard KTRK-TV SkyEye 13, the Houston station’s news helicopter.

According to a report in the “Houston Chronicle,” the helicopter hit the ground hard, broke into pieces and bounced into nearby trees. In the process, Downhower and Garrett were ejected from the aircraft. The Bell 206L4 helicopter was built in 1993, the paper reported.

Station spokesman Tom Ash released a statement saying KTRK-TV was “deeply saddened.”

For more information, visit http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=6446793 and
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6055595.html.