Two Injured in Chatham Helicopter Crash

COURTESY OF CHATHAM POLICE

CHATHAM – Chatham Police, Fire crews and the Harbormaster responded to a helicopter crash at Crows Pond in Chatham around 12:45 p.m. Friday afternoon.

Units found a 2002 Robinson Helicopter (Rotocraft) crashed on the shoreline near the property of 204 Crows Pond Road.

The helicopter was partially submerged and had two occupants that were entrapped in the wreckage.

COURTESY OF CHATHAM POLICE

The pilot, 48 year old John Ryan from Scituate and passenger, 48 year old Tyra Pacheco from Acushnet, had to be freed from the wreckage by emergency personnel.

The pilot was transported to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis with serious injuries.

The woman was taken by Chatham Harbormaster boat to a dock and then taken by ambulance to Barnstable Municipal Airport where she was then flown to Mass General Hospital in Boston by MedFlight for critical injuries.

Witnesses described to police that the helicopter was flying low over the shoreline residences, and witnesses also reported hearing engine sputtering.

The helicopter was described to police as making an emergency forced landing, on the shoreline.

A preliminary investigation by police revealed that the helicopter was out of Plymouth Airport and was hired for property aerial photography for a local real estate company.

Along with Chatham Police and Fire/Rescue, other assisting agencies included the Massachusetts State Police, United States Coast Guard, (Air Station Otis and Station Chatham), and the Chatham Harbormaster’s Office.