Widow of paramedic killed in medevac crash files l

[Fubar]

The widow of a flight paramedic killed in a 2008 crash of a Maryland State Police helicopter has sued the federal government for $15 million, saying that air traffic controllers' errors and inattention contributed to the death.

Paramedic Mickey C. Lippy, 34, was among four people killed when a medevac helicopter crashed in darkness and gathering fog as it attempted to deliver two teenage patients from a car accident in Waldorf in southern Maryland to Prince George's Hospital Center.

Federal accident investigators determined that the probable cause of the crash was that the pilot descended too quickly in an attempt to get out of the deteriorating weather. The investigators said contributing factors were controller failures -- including relaying hours-old weather information to the pilot and inadequately handling the flight before it crashed in District Heights. The accident occurred during the deadliest year for medevac helicopters.

The controllers were negligent, contends the lawsuit filed March 12 by Christina P. Lippy of Westminster and her 2-year-old daughter, Madison.

The suit does not name the state of Maryland or the state police, for whom Lippy worked. The federal government has about two months to respond to the filing.

One patient onboard survived with severe injuries. Besides Lippy, the pilot, the second patient and a volunteer emergency medical technician were killed.

 

[Fubar]

Trooper Mickey Lippy and civilian Pilot Stephen Bunker were killed in a helicopter crash while performing a medical evacuation of two critically injured teenagers from Charles County.

During the flight, the EuroCopter Dauphin helicopter encountered severe weather and Pilot Bunker radioed to have two ambulances meet them at Andrews Air Force Base to complete the transport. At approximately 12:30 am, air traffic controllers lost contact with the helicopter.

A ground search was initiated and approximately 2 hours later the wreckage was found in Walker Mill Regional Park. Both troopers, a Charles County EMT, and one of the two patients were killed in the crash.

Trooper Lippy was appointed to the Maryland State Police four years ago. He had been in the Aviation Command as a flight paramedic since April 2007. He is survived by his wife and his daughter.

 

[Fubar]

Killed in the crash Sunday were the pilot, flight paramedic, Emergency Medical Technician Tanya Mallard, 39; and 18-year-old Ashley Younger. Younger and Jordan Wells, who survived the crash, were involved in the traffic accident in Charles County.

RIP
EMT Tanya Mallard, Ms. Younger, pilot Stephen Bunker, and Flight Paramedic/Trooper Mickey Lippy
9/28/08

 

[Baja28]

As sad as I am for the loss of life, this is and is what's wrong with our system today. Everybody is sue happy and looking for a quick payout.

 

[Fubar]

A mother of two teenagers, EMT Tonya Mallard joined the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department in 2004.
Tonya's smile was like a beacon to all of us, she was a ray of sunshine-a beacon to others. Her attitude, enthusiasm, and energy were endless.
Tonya will always live on in our hearts and forever ride with us as we continue to provide exemplary service to our community.

RIP my friend.

 

[Fubar]

As sad as I am for the loss of life, this is and is what's wrong with our system today. Everybody is sue happy and looking for a quick payout.

I beg to differ.....

 

[flomaster]

I wasn't there and cannot say what was right or wrong but the ultimate responsibilty however couragious the crew is, falls on the Pilot in command. Not saying it was all his fault but therin lies some responsibility. Just the way it is.

It was a very sad day and I know people that are connected to the crew that was lost.

 

[vraiblonde]

As sad as I am for the loss of life, this is and is what's wrong with our system today. Everybody is sue happy and looking for a quick payout.

And I agree with you.

 

[Fubar]

This will be decided in court; but if you were given some outdated misinformation and it resulted in an accident that caused the death of someone wouldn't you want to persue it to prevent the death of others?
Not all lawsuits are frivolous and for profit.

 

[terbear1225]

And I agree with you.

i wonder how the paramedic would feel if he knew his wife was suing?

 

[vraiblonde]

This will be decided in court; but if you were given some outdated misinformation and it resulted in an accident that caused the death of someone wouldn't you want to persue it to prevent the death of others?
Not all lawsuits are frivolous and for profit.

$15 million?

 

[Fubar]

i wonder how the paramedic would feel if he knew his wife was suing?

Hell-o wth has that got to do w/anything-the widow is suing the FEDs-hopefully to prevent this from happening to anyone else.

 

[vraiblonde]

Hell-o wth has that got to do w/anything-the widow is suing the FEDs-hopefully to prevent this from happening to anyone else.

How is suing going to prevent an ACCIDENT from happening again? Or do you think the ATC crashed these guys on purpose?

 

[Baja28]

This will be decided in court; but if you were given some outdated misinformation and it resulted in an accident that caused the death of someone wouldn't you want to persue it to prevent the death of others?
Not all lawsuits are frivolous and for profit.

Then WTF is she seeking $15 MILLION?!?!?!?!

 

[libertytyranny]

This will be decided in court; but if you were given some outdated misinformation and it resulted in an accident that caused the death of someone wouldn't you want to persue it to prevent the death of others?
Not all lawsuits are frivolous and for profit.

It is very rare that I think anyone should sue...because of this. Accidents happen. Did someone give them outdated weather information becasue they wanted them to crash and die? Then they should be charged with manslaughter. Did they do it because they had nothing else? or they didn't realize it was old? or thats the first thing they grabbed during a stresful time during terrible weather? Accidents happen. if someone did it on purpose charges. If they didn't it's an accident..and they happen..and we don't get 15 million when they do.

 

[flomaster]

Hell-o wth has that got to do w/anything-the widow is suing the FEDs-hopefully to prevent this from happening to anyone else.

So she takes 15 Million dollars from the budget that could have paid for an investigation to ensure this doesn't happen again. I am not saying that there isn't a finger that can be pointed but 15 million?

 

[Fubar]

The National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the crash was caused by a combination of factors including a pilot who was not proficient in instrument landing approaches and air traffic controllers who provided outdated weather information.

 

[terbear1225]

Hell-o wth has that got to do w/anything-the widow is suing the FEDs-hopefully to prevent this from happening to anyone else.

it has to do with whether or not this widow is honoring the memory of her spouse or trampling on the principles that he held in life.

personally, i know that my spouse would not want me to sue and I would honor that by not suing.

 

[kom526]

The National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the crash was caused by a combination of factors including a pilot who was not proficient in instrument landing approaches and air traffic controllers who provided outdated weather information.

Sounds to me like 15 mil could work up a pretty good training program.:shrug:

Isn't the Dauphin supposed to be a pretty decent foul weather platform? I know the Jayhawks (?) that the CG uses to pluck crab fishermen out of the Bering Sea are pretty stout.

 

[Uncle Charlie]

Lawsuits suck....BUT...

I HATE lawsuits and think they are a matter of last resort and this is a "last resort" case.

The Federal Government has known for YEARS and YEARS that our ATC system is outdated and the controllers are not trained as proficiently as they should be, not to mention they are OVERWHELMED in many cases.

In this case, the pilot was given OLD wetaher information prior to liftoff which is what he used to make the decision to fly in the 1st place. Error 1 to ATC person. Most likely laziness or complacency took over, it happens! This is GROSS negligence. Not intentional, but, gross negligence.

You had an ATC person that was not trained to guide aircraft into and onto the airfield through an instrument landing approach. HELLO...you are an ATC person and you don't know how to guide an aircraft into the airport when the aircraft can't see. Hmmm...sounds negligent to me. Most probable reason for this is understaffing ATC positions and "rolling the dice" that we won't need a fully trained person at night.

The pilot for Trooper 2 is not required to be certified for instrument landings AND the aircraft he was flying was not equipped with the most recent equipment because the State of Maryland wouldn't buy it. The pilot asked the ATC person for a guided in landing. The ATC person said "I can't do that, I am not qualified."

Now, you have a pilot, flying blind because he was given bad / old weather information, in an aircraft not properly outfitted and an ATC person who can't DO what they are supposed to do, CONTROL air traffic. How the hell can you control air traffic if YOU as the ATC person don't know how to guide an aircraft in.

MAYBE the lawsuit will force the government to fix the ATC issues we have in this country. If people knew the truth about what happens when they fly, most would NOT fly!!!

SAD...SAD...SAD.