Updated: Helicopter crash claims the life of a pilot injuring another on the ground

UPDATE: The pilot is identified as 51-year-old Jason Wimberly of Jackson, Mississippi.

August 23, 2024

Released by:  Sheriff Robert Burby 

On Friday August 23rd at 1:29 pm Newton County Sheriff's Department, DPS, as well as other First Responders and Fire Departments received a call of a helicopter crashed CR 3048 at CR 2049 North of Newton.

Newton County Sheriff Robert Burby said, "We arrived at 1:46 pm and the pilot was checked by First Responders. Preliminary investigation is still on going by Department of Public Safety (DPS) who is now in charge of the scene waiting on Investigators from FAA".

The name was not released at the time of this release due to the pending notification of next of kin.

DPS Media Sergeant Shana Clark said, "Troopers were notified at approximately 1:26 p.m., that a Rotorcraft aircraft OH-58A+, Tail Number N199BD, (helicopter), used for agricultural services, crashed for unknown reasons as it was nearing its fueling truck."

The pilot succumbed to injuries sustained during the crash. Their information is not available at this time pending notification of their next of kin. A person standing next to the fuel truck was injured when they were struck by the helicopter’s landing skids. They were transported to Jasper Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.) and the National Transportation Safety Board (N.T.S.B.) has been notified and will conduct this investigation.

This is an active and ongoing investigation, and no additional information is available at this time.

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