Report: Black Hawk Pilots Disoriented In Fog, Lost Control
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
NEW ORLEANS (CBSMiami/AP) — A military investigation has determined that the helicopter pilots that crashed off the Florida coast in March had become disoriented in a thick fog and lost control, failing to switch from visual-based procedures to instrument-based ones.
The March 10 crash during a training exercise killed four Louisiana Army National guardsmen and seven Marines.
A Thursday morning news release from the Louisiana Guard says both pilots aboard the Black Hawk helicopter suffered "spatial disorientation" that caused them to lose control of the aircraft. The statement says the pilots did not effectively transition from visual flight procedures to instrument flight procedures.
The crash was investigated by the Louisiana Guard and the U.S. Special Operations Command.
(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)