Hoopie World: Plane Crash - New Sewickley Twp

Hoopie World

Plane Crash - New Sewickley Township - (10/27/04)

On Wednesday October 27, 2004 at 1733 Hrs Big Knob (Station 26) and Pine Run (Station 59) were dispatched by Beaver County 9-1-1 foe an aircraft down with possible entrapment at the Beaver Valley Skydiving Club located on Blank Road in New Sewickley Township Beaver County, PA. Big Knob Firefighter/Paramedic Rick Brewer arrived on scene within 3 minutes confirming a single engine plane down with one occupant entrapped and three injuries. FFP Brewer requested on helicopter be put in the air. Chief 2610 ( PJ Moldovan) arrived on scene and established Big Knob Command verifying a single engine Cessna 180 owned by the Skydiving Club had crashed in a grass field adjacent to the runway. FFP Brewer advised command to request a second helicopter to be sent to the scene. Big Knob Rescue 269 arrived with a crew of six followed by Big Knob Engine 261, Pine Run Squad 598, and Pine Run Engine 593. Command advised Pine Run Chief 5910 to establish landing zones on site for two medical helicopters. FFP Brewer, FF/EMT Brad Casto, FF/EMT Matt Johnston, and FF/EMT John Murtha from Big Knob and Captain/EMT Darren Moldovan (5912) and FF/EMT Mike Guarley Jr. For Pine Run immediately started patient care until EMS arrived. At that time command ordered a foam line be pulled and charged from engine 593. Medic Rescue units 62 and 57 and Economy EMS unit 45 arrived on scene and were given triage reports by FFP Brewer. STAT Medevac unit 3 arrived on scene first followed by Medevac 14. At that time the STAT crew advised operations (Rescue Captain Jim Scheck 2612) that a third helicopter would be needed. At 1744 Hrs command also asked Beaver County 9-1-1 to notify the FAA, NTSB, and the ATF of the incident. Big Knob Fire Police Captain Jim Dambach Jr. established a crowd control perimeter. New Sewickley Township Police conducted witness interviews and set up a media area away from the crash site. At 1757 Hrs the Beaver County Coroner was en-route to the scene. At 1811 Hrs the first helicopter was inbound to UPMC Presby, Pittsburgh. The second helicopter was inbound to UPMC Presby ant 1817 Hrs. The third helicopter was inbound to UPMC Presby at 1825 Hrs. At 1842 Hrs the Coroner gave permission to extricate the victim from the wreckage. Command advised Beaver County 9-1-1 to mark extrication time started at 1859 Hrs and extrication completed at 1858 Hrs. Command terminated at 2055 Hrs, at which time PA. State Police took control and secured the scene until the outside agencies arrived. Daugherty Township (Station 86) was also dispatched as night fell to provide a light tower. Chief Moldovan would like to thank all who were on scene of this incident foe a job well done by all.

Pictures and Story By -

Bryan Kelley

Big Knob Fire/Rescue Photographer