Share
One person was killed and another injured this morning when a helicopter clipped a power line and crashed into a field on the south side of Monroe.
The four-seat Hughes Brin helicopter came down between the Stewart Park neighborhood and Central Academy of Technology and Arts -- only a few hundred yards from the school.
No buildings were struck by the craft.
Killed in the crash was Mark Bartlett, 46, of Mint Hill. Justin Travis was injured and taken to CMC Union. Pete Hovanec, a spokesman for the City of Monroe, said Travis is awake and conscious. It is unclear who was piloting the helicopter.
Hovanec said Bartlett was a part-time employee for the City of Monroe, an airport line service technician for the city's Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport. He had worked for the city since last May 12.
Bartlett and Travis were flying in a four-seat Hughes Brin helicopter which crashed about 10:30 a.m., in a field about 100 yards from the back fence of Central Academy, a Union County school.
Hovanec said the two were not flying on city business, but it is unclear where the helicopter was headed. The craft flew out of Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport.
The helicopter hit a Duke Energy line, temporarily knocking out power to about 4,000 customers. Randy Wheeless, a spokesman for Duke Energy, said power was restored to all customers by noon. Wheeless said the craft was not working for Duke Energy.
Union County Schools officials say several schools were without power for a short time, including Central Academy, Parkwood Middle, Parkwood High and Prospect Elementary.
A Stewart Park resident, Faris Smith, noted how the helicopter managed to avoid hitting the school or any homes. "Right around here is the only open land in the area," Smith said. "It's a miracle."
Rose Peay, who lives near the crash scene at Donnom and Sycamore streets, said she was not home when the helicopter crashed. But she said neighbors apparently heard the craft go down.
"Some neighbors said they heard a loud 'boom' " Peay said.
She said a large number of people from the neighborhood have gathered at the edge of the field, to watch investigators examine the downed craft.
Bea Brantley, who lives about two blocks from the crash, said, "It was pretty close to home. God was looking after the folks around here today."
Video from the scene shows the helicopter, apparently resting on its side, in a field partially covered by snow.
The FAA has investigators on route to the crash scene.
Observer staff writer Lisa Hammersly and NewsChannel 36 contributed.
