The Associated Press
MANHATTAN, Mont. A twin-engine medical airplane en route to Bozeman crashed near here late Tuesday, killing all three people on board, authorities said.
Benefis Healthcare in Great Falls confirmed its Mercy Flight, a King Air 200 turboprop, was flying to Bozeman for a patient transport when the crash occurred. The pilot, a nurse and a paramedic were killed.
“We are devastated by the loss of our beloved friends, co-workers and members of our community,” said Julie Hickethier, chief clinical officer. “This is a time of tremendous mourning for our entire organization.”
Benefis Healthcare identified the victims as Vince Kirol, 58, the pilot; registered nurse Darcy Dengel, 27; and paramedic Paul Erickson, 33.
Kirol has been flying for 40 years and was a Mercy Flight Fixed Wing pilot for 12 years. He is survived by his wife and two sons.
Dengel was hired at Benefis in June 2001 and has been working on medical flights since August 2005. She was engaged to be married this spring to a member of the Great Falls Police Department.
Erickson was hired at Benefis in August 2004 and granted flight status in April 2005. He and his wife, the trauma coordinator for Benefis Healthcare, have a 7-month-old son.
The aircraft apparently disappeared from radar shortly after 9 p.m. while inbound for the Gallatin Field Airport.
Gallatin County Sheriff Jim Cashell said the crash was reported at about 9:15 p.m. The crash site is about 15 miles northwest of the airport.
Searchers and rescue crews had to use all-terrain vehicles and Jeeps to reach the crash site.
The investigation into the cause of the crash is just beginning, said Allen Kenitzer, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration.
“It’s likely to take several weeks, several months,” he said.
Dennis Hogenson of the National Transportation Safety Board in Seattle is in charge and was at the scene Wednesday.
Records indicate the airplane is owned by a Louisiana company and leased to Benefis.
Benefis has grounded its Mercy Flight helicopter until the flight teams can be debriefed. In the interim, hospitals in Billings, Missoula and Kalispell are assisting Benefis in patient air transports.
Meanwhile, news of the crash spread quickly throughout Great Falls on Wednesday.
“Collateral damage has struck the brotherhood in the medical community, schools, police and fire department,” said the Rev. Ken Johns, pastor of Solid Rock Bible Church. “Our community has come together over this tragedy. Nobody should be alone at a time like this. Everyone at (Solid Rock) is praying for them all.”
Johns and his wife were called at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday to inform Kirol’s family of his death.
“I’ve known Vince for 10 years,” Ken Johns said. “He’s a friend. Telling (his wife) Diana what had happened was one of the worst things a pastor has to do.”
Benefis lowered the flags on its properties, and family members and Benefis staff set up a memorial display inside the main doors at Benefis East.
Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., told hospital officials he planned to share a brief overview of the crew members’ lives and offer condolences during an address on the U.S. Senate floor.
At the request of Rep. Mike Milburn, R-Cascade, who is a Mercy Flight pilot, Rep. Bob Bergren asked for a moment of silence Wednesday in the state House of Representatives.
“It’s a pretty low day for us,” Bergren, D-Havre, said later.
Bergren, a firefighter, often worked with Erickson. Rep. Eve Franklin, D-Great Falls, a nursing instructor, taught Dengel.