USDA/APHIS/WILDLIFE SERVICES
Wendy Keefover-Ring Sinapu, 1979-2007
Accident and Injury Summary
No Injuries: 30 accidents with no injuries
Minor Injuries: 23
Serious Injuries: 5
Fatal Injuries: 10
Total Accidents: 51
Total Injuries/Fatalities: 38
| DATE | CITY, STATE | INJURY RECORD | DESCRIPTION | TYPE OF AIRCRAFT & ENGINE |
| 9/12/07 | Ft. Stockton, TX
NTSB Report |
Serious Serious |
Mechanical malfunction of helicopter shortly after take off and while cruising at about 50’ from ground level. Team was "collecting coyotes" to test for rabies. | Robinson R22 Beta |
| 6/01/07 | Loa, UT
NTSB Report |
Fatal Fatal |
Crash occurred at 8,300’ in sagebrush landscape. Ground crew reported that several coyotes were in the area. No distress calls from plane before it crashed and erupted into fire. | Husky A-1 |
| 1/30/06 | Gail, TX
NTSB Report |
None None |
The "airplane settled into a mesquite tree thicket while maneuvering" at low altitude. | Piper PA-18-150 |
| 12/20/04 | Terreton, ID
NTSB Report |
Serious Minor |
Circling at low altitude, the control stick went ‘limp,’ the tail went up. | Christen Industries A-1 |
| 12/01/04 | Jal, NM
NTSB Report |
None | Pilot hit powerlines while training to land to pick up gunner. | Piper PA-18-150 |
| 11/16/04 | Idaho | None | Lost power, engine ceased running. Emergency landing. | Husky 96186 |
| 7/14/03 | Ely, NV
NTSB Report |
None None |
In a practice landing while training for Wildlife Services, engine problems ensued. A wheel slid off the road and the craft landed in a ditch and flipped. | Piper PA-18-150 |
| 6/25/03 | Big Timber, MT
NTSB Report |
Minor Minor |
Engine lost power. | McDonnell Douglas 369E |
| 2/10/03 | OK | None | Power line strike, minimum damage to craft. Did not crash. | Bell 206 BIII |
| 3/8/02 | Winnemucca, NV
NTSB Report |
None None |
Lost engine power on landing following 5.5 hours of flying on a "local area animal control flight." | Piper PA-18-150 |
| 10/26/01 | Gooding, ID | None None |
During coyote hunting shotgun pellet ricocheted off ground back to helicopter and irreparably damaged main rotor blade. Did not crash. | Hughs 500D |
| 5/7/01 | Conchas, NM
NTSB Report |
None None |
Aircraft sustained substantial damage while on coyote hunt. Engine failure possibly due to flying at low altitude in high humidity. | Hiller-UH12 |
| 1/23/01 | NV | None None |
Gunner accidentally shot strut off of one wing. Plane landed and re-attached strut. | PA 18 -150 |
| 6/1/00 | Austin, NV
NTSB Report |
Minor Minor |
Aircraft "collided with the ground" while flying at low altitude. | Piper PA-18-150 |
| 5/3/00 | Unknown locale | None None |
Gunner shot propeller while behaving with "overzealous composure." Plane landed alright. | Super Cub 91Y |
| 3/27/00 | Del Rio, TX
NTSB Report |
Fatal Fatal |
No witnesses saw the accident; investigators suggest an "in-flight loss of control . . .[and] in-flight collision with terrain." | Hughes HU-269C |
| 3/13/00 | Rio Vista, CA
NTSB Report |
Serious Minor |
Pilot was flying in an area cluttered with wind turbines and powerlines. He hit a line and plunged 120 feet. | Piper PA-18-150 |
| 2/19/99 | Battle Mtn, NV
NTSB Report |
None None |
While in a turn, the plane encountered turbulence. | Christen, A-1 |
| 12/23/98 | Tooele County, UT | None None |
Gunner shot strut during multiple passes to kill a single coyote, which went unnoticed until later inspection. | Husky A1 |
| 4/2/98 | OR | None Minor |
Shotgun pellet ricocheted back and hit pilot in eye, shattering eyeglass lens and cutting eyelid, plane did not land. | Unknown |
| 3/11/98 | Lebec, CA
NTSB Report |
Fatal Serious |
During a turn, the plane’s wing struck the ground. Pilot’s shoulder harness was modified. | Christen A-1, N9615G |
| 1/22/98 | Brackettsville, TX
NTSB Report |
Minor Minor |
Engine failure caused helicopter to plunge from 75’ to the ground. | Hughes 269C Lycoming HIO360D1A |
| 1/15/98 | Magdalena, NM
NTSB Report |
None None |
Pilot lost lift and rotor RPM when coming out of a canyon. | Bell 47G3B1 Lycoming TVO435B1A |
| 1/14/98 | Spanish Fork, UT
NTSB Report |
Minor Fatal |
Helicopter struck a tree on passenger side after engine failure. | Bell 47G-3B-2 Lycoming TVO435G1A |
| 5/19/97 | Bly, OR | None None |
Propeller hit with 14 shotgun pellets. | Unknown |
| 4/7/97 | Capitan, NM
NTSB Report |
Minor Minor |
Flying at 35' — engine failure. Estimated $100,000 in damage to vehicle. | Bell TH-13T Lycoming TVO435B1A |
| 2/20/97 | Gooding, ID | None None |
Gunner shot left strut. | Unknown |
| 1/13/97 | Gooding, ID | None None |
Gunner shot fully through flagger when gun "slipped". | Piper Cub N74911 |
| 10/10/96 | Holden, UT
NTSB Report |
Fatal Fatal |
Crash attributed to poor maintenance and flying 75lbs overweight. | Piper PA-18-150 Lycoming 0-320-B2B |
| 9/30/96 | Niobara County | None None |
Engine failure caused forced landing. | Unknown |
| 2/1/96 | Lakeview, OR
NTSB Report |
Minor Minor |
Pilot distracted by gunner’s jammed rifle — crashed plane. | Christen Lycoming 0-360-C1G |
| 10/20/95 | Richfield, UT | None None |
Gunner shot strut off of left wing. Plane still flew alright. | Unknown |
| 5/25/95 | Roundup, MT | None None |
Bird struck helicopter and imbedded in windshield. Pieces of plexiglass hit gunner but he was not injured. | Unknown |
| 1/12/95 | Dumont, TX
NTSB Report |
Minor Minor |
Flying at 40’ engine failed "catastrophically". | Hughes 269C Lycoming HIO360D1A |
| 8/19/94 | Ellendale, ND
NTSB Report |
None | No records provided by either the NTSB or APHIS. | Bellanca BL28 |
| 8/10/94 | Tinnie, NM
NTSB Report |
None None |
A "wildlife observation mission." Pilot hit road sign during takeoff following a hunt on the Jim Cooper Ranch. | Christen Husky A-1 Lycoming 0-36-C7G |
| 6/20/94 | London, TX
NTSB Report |
Minor Minor |
While flying at low altitude, pilot experienced "partial power loss". | Hughes 269C Lycoming HI0-360D1A |
| 1/7/93 | Council, ID
NTSB Report |
Minor Minor |
Crashed on an unplowed runway. | Piper PA-18-135 Lycoming 0-320-B2B |
| 1/22/92 | San Luis, CO | None None |
While making passes at a coyote plane struck and broke a power line. | Unknown |
| 10/11/90 | Silver Springs, NV | None None |
Gunner shot strut while hunting coyotes. | Unknown |
| 9/25/90 | Haggerman, NM | None None |
Gunner shot strut while hunting coyotes. | Unknown |
| 1/10/90 | Rock Springs, WY | Minor | Plane collided with ground and crashed during coyote hunting operation. Extensive damage done to plane and 2 hours passed before plane was reported missing. | Piper PA- 18 |
| 1/9/90 | Casper, WY | None None |
Gunner shot propeller while firing at animals on ground. Plane landed okay. | Unknown |
| 11/8/89 | Alamagordo, NM
NTSB Report |
Serious Serious |
While shooting coyotes, "airplane collided with the ground". | Douglas C-54B |
| 1/24/89 | Sweetwater, TX | None None |
Gunner shot strut. | Super Cub N744 |
| 5/24/88 | Spanish Fork, UT | None | Bolt came loose during flight and caused a forced landing. | Super Cub N91017 |
| 3/12/88 | Manti, UT | None None |
Helicopter flying in snowstorm scared a horse through a barbed wire fence causing fatal injury to horse. Owner sought compensation. | Unknown |
| 2/3/87 | Richland, WA | None None |
Helicopter crashed due to mechanical failure while hunting coyotes 15-20 ft above ground. | Bell 47-G3-B2A |
| 5/12/86 | Wilcox, AZ | Minor Minor |
Plane stalled and crashed while hunting coyotes. Crash due to pilot error. Pilot fired. | Piper PA-18 |
| 8/15/79 | Artesia, NM
NTSB Report |
Fatal Fatal |
Probable vortex turbulence and failure to maintain flying speed. | Piper PA-18 |
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Aircraft crashes as a result of aerial gunning operations. Photos from the National Transportation Safety Board.