Research notes on medical helicopter crashes and accidents in North Carolina, both fatal and non-fatal. Pictured is the Life Force crash in Macon County in March 2023. The four crew members all survived with minor to moderate injuries. Photo credit TBD.
1980s
Duke Life Flight, Duke University Hospital, Durham
7/21/1986
Crashed near NC 751 and Fayetteville Street in Durham County, during patient transport
Five people injured with minor injuries.
NTSB ATL86FA203
Fatal
AirCare, North Carolina Baptist Hospitals, Winston-Salem
9/23/1986
Crashed while en route to Twin County Community Hospital in Galax, VA, to pick-up a patient, when it crashed into the peak of Horse Knob, a 3,400-high mountain about a half-mile south of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The crash occurred around 12:54 p.m. Witnesses said it appeared to be having mechanical problems before the crash.
Killed Barry Wayne Day, 36, pilot
Killed Karen Simpson, 30, nurse
Killed Barbara Burdett, 28, nurse
NTSB ATL86FA264
Fatal
East Care, Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Greenville
1/8/1987
Crashed while transporting a three-month-old girl from Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital to the Greenville neonatal unit when it crashed about 9:15 p.m. It had left the hospital at 8:59 a.m. A distress call was heard on a medical radio frequency, with someone saying “mayday, mayday … we have a fire on board and are going down.” The pilot of the Bell 206 LongRanger was apparently trying to land in a clearing in a stand of young pine trees in the Hoffman Forest near Pollocksville, NC. The aircraft crashed in a swampy area of the forest. Marine Corp Air Station New River conducted a search and rescue operation and located the wreckage. All souls aboard were killed.
Killed Perry Lee Reynolds, 39, pilot
Killed Mike Patrick McGinnis, 32, chief flight nurse
Killed Pamela M. Demaree, 28, flight nurse
NTSB ATL87MA057
Fatal
Medflight, Dare County EMS, Manteo
3/26/1989
Crashed whils returning from an emergency call, and from transporting a small child to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, when their aircraft struck an unlighted cellular tower under construction in Coinjock in Currituck County that was directly in their flight path. There were no lights on the tower, as required by the FAA. The lights were scheduled to be installed the day following the crash. On August 22, 1989, the Dare County Board of Commissioners dedicated the Duvall-Willoughby Hangar at the county airport in there memory, and with a stone memorial marker with their names.
Killed Claude Clara “C.C.” Duvall II, 53, pilot
Killed Stephanie Willoughby, 34, EMT
NTSB ATL89FA116
1990s
Fatal
Air Care, North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Winston-Salem
4/22/1994
Crashed while travelling from Winston-Salem to Bluefield, WV, to pick up a patient. The weather was rainy and extremely foggy and the crew was flying by instruments. Just seven minutes from the Mercer County, WV, airport, the helicopter crashed into East River Mountain. All four crew members were killed.
Killed Michael Travison, 32
Killed Anthony Barbee
Killed Donna L Eaton, 33
Killed Karen L Canada, 38
NTSB https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=8841
2000s
Fatal
Duke Life Flight, Duke University Hospital, Durham
10/17/2000
Crashed while returning to Duke University Medical Center from Alamance Regional Medical Center. Prior to landing at Alamance, the Life Flight II pilot had noticed a warning light indicating low oil pressure and called maintenance personnel. The patient he had been sent to transport had been already moved by ground transportation. Following an inspection, the helicopter was cleared to fly. Minutes later, after departing the hospital in Burlington, the helicopter crashed in a firey explosion.
Killed John A Holland, 39, pilot
NTSB MIA01FA006
2010s
Fatal
Duke Life Flight, Duke University Hospital, Durham
9/8/2017
Crashed in Perquimans County near Belvedere, during patient transport from Sentara Albemarle Medical Center in Elizabeth City to Duke University Hospital in Durham. The aircraft was based at Johnston Regional Airport in Smithfield. The aircraft crashed in a grassy field, south of the Perquimans/Gates County line. Witnesses reported seeing a trail of dark smoke coming from the helicopter before the crash. All four souls aboard were killed, including patient Mary Bartlett.
Killed Jeff Burke, pilot
Killed Crystal Sollinger nurse
Killed Kris Harrison, nurse
Killed Mary Bartlett, patient
NTSB https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95967
2020s
Life Force, Erlanger Health System, Tennessee
3/9/2023
Crashed in Macon County, en route to pick-up a patient in Asheville.
Four people injured with minor to moderate injuries.
NTSB https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106859
Novant AirLink
February 24, 2025
Crashed in woods near New Hanover/Pender county line, while returning to base in Wilmington.
Three people injured with minor injuries.
NTSB ERA25LA126
Other Medical Helicopter Incidents
Duke Life Flight, Duke University Hospital, Durham
2/8/2009
Emergency landing after bird strike in Yanceyville, transporting patient from Danville, VA
No injuries
No NTSB
TBD, possibly EastCare
12/29/10
Emergency landing after pilot became partially incapacitated, after departing Greenville en route to Morehead City. Landed at Cherry Point MCAS with heavy damage.
No injuries
NTSB ERA11LA106