Greenville man planned to fly helicopter in for maintenance day of deadly crash, NTSB report shows
New documents are revealing details about the morning leading up to the fiery helicopter crash in Darke County that killed a Greenville couple earlier this month.
On June 7, crews responded to Hogpath Road between U.S. 127 and State Route 49 in Greenville on reports of a helicopter crash.
Krista Zimmer, 35, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her husband, Charles Zimmer, 34, was rescued from the helicopter by bystanders and deputies and flown to Miami Valley Hospital, where he died two days later.
>> PHOTOS: Deadly helicopter crash under investigation in Darke County
On Thursday, News Center 7 obtained a copy of the National Transportation Safety Board’s Aviation Accident Preliminary Report. The report stated that a pilot, who had previously flown the Zimmers’ helicopter, told inspectors that Charles had planned to fly to Warren County on the day of the crash for scheduled maintenance.
The Zimmers stored their helicopter in a private hanger facility roughly three miles from their Greenville home, according to the report. Around 9:25 a.m. on June 7, the couple was seen on surveillance video leaving the hanger facility in the helicopter.
Witnesses told a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that they saw the helicopter flying in the area before the crash, which was reported at the couple’s residence around 9:40 a.m. There were no witnesses to the crash itself.
The report stated that the pilot was not in contact with air traffic control at the time of the flight.
The Zimmers used their helicopter for agricultural spraying on their farm. Prior to the crash, the spray equipment had been removed from the helicopter.
>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Second victim in Darke County helicopter crash dies from injuries
The reported stated the while Charles was a private pilot, Krista was a student pilot.
“Its a tragic event and our hearts and prayers go out to the family members who are involved in this,” Darke County Sheriff Mark Whittaker previously told News Center 7.
News Center 7 previously spoke with to a friend who knew the couple about this tragic crash that caught the entire community off guard.
“Just total shock. Devastation. We’ve had other deaths in our school family too and this one was just. For a young mom with two young children and a father. It’s just a tragedy,” said Vernon Rosenbeck, the principal at St. Mary’s Elementary School.
