Helicopter Crash In Cosby – One Killed

The FAA is investigating the crash of a helicopter in Cosby at the Sevier County line. That crash left one person dead and another critically injured. The copter went down in a heavily wooded area off of Apple Tree Lane not far from Hooper Highway in the area of Baxter’s Orchard. A witness stated the crash site was relatively easy for first responders to get to.

From what we know the helicopter was a Robinson R44 owned by November Alpha LLC that operates a company called Touchstone Helicopters out of Los Angeles. That’s a company that rents and leases helicopters. According to the FAA the aircraft was picked up by a private individual.

That helicopter took off from Gatlinburg – Pigeon Forge Airport at 2:13 Wednesday afternoon and according to the flight plan filed with the airport was to return at 2:21 after a 15 mile flight…but at 2:21 the helicopter disappeared from radar. A nearby resident heard the crash and called 911. Cocke County & Sevier County sheriff’s deputies rushed to the scene along with numerous area fire agencies…including the Cosby Volunteer Fire Department and the Cocke County Fire Department.

The names of the victims have not been released nor has any information on the condition of the survivor. The FAA along with the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating that crash.