Durham man dies in West Virginia helicopter crash
A Durham man was among six people killed this past week when a Vietnam War-era helicopter crashed in West Virginia, the Associated Press reported.
Donald Sandhoff, 69, was one of six people on board a Bell UH-1B “Huey” helicopter, flown during an annual helicopter enthusiast event hosted by MARPAT Aviation. Attendees of the event could sign up to take a tour ride in or fly the helicopter.
The helicopter crashed Wednesday about 3.7 miles northeast of the Logan County Airport, according to the AP, killing everyone onboard. A fire that started after the crash consumed much of the wreckage, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
After being flown by the 114th Assault Helicopter Company in Vinh Long, Vietnam, throughout the 1960s, MARPAT said the helicopter was used in several films. Those included “Die Hard,” “The Rock” and “Under Siege: Dark Territory.”
West Virginia’s chief medical examiner reported that other victims included John Nagle, 53, of Austin, Texas; Kevin Warren, 51, of Franklin, Tennessee; Carolyn O’Connor, 73, of Winter Garden, Florida; and Marvin Bledsoe, 64, and Jack Collins, 65, both of Chapmanville, West Virginia.
This story was originally published June 26, 2022 at 11:22 AM with the headline "Durham man dies in West Virginia helicopter crash."