Torrance helicopter crash witness thinks the FAA got what it deserved
Ricky Diggs, who calls himself "planeguy," was at the Torrance Municipal Airport on Nov. 6, 2003, when two helicopters collided midair, killing two and severely injuring Gavin Heyworth. After reading my article this week about the FAA settling with the surviving pilot for $4.5 million, Diggs e-mailed me to share what he saw and heard that horrific afternoon.
"Gavin was in the R22 crossing the field on a North to south heading. The other pilots were in an R44 that was traveling approximately 20 to 50 feet off the ground until they called for a departure towards King Harbor. They were given permission to do so and was told to expedite. They complied and that is when they climbed right in front of me from Taxiway Alpha over to 29L and was accending rapidly. That is when I heard the controller tell Gavin to Caution other heli .. and land something 29R. But it was too late. I saw everything. The R44 climbed into the bottom of Gavin who was in the R22 and immediately lost both Skids and the tail boom.
"Then the R44, which had lost its rotors bounced off Gavin and began a series of clockwise longitudnal rolls until it impacted the right side of runway 29L. Immediately on pilot was ejected in pieces ... the other was dragged beneath the R44. IT came to rest and exploded.
"Gavin was spinning out of control and crashed between 29R and 29L.
"I saw the pilot of the R44 pressing his hands forward as if to shield himself from the impact.
"I told the FAA and NTSB this ... they told me to not speculate. I was sure of what I saw as I was mere 50 to 100 yards away from the crash. I witnessed the whole thing. I was also in communication with Tim Robertson ... Gavin's instructor. We listened and was watching the student fly. He complied verbally with all instruction, right down to the "Oh Shit" I heard over the handheld COMM Tim was listening on."
In a follow-up e-mail, Diggs wrote:
"I saw that poor soul in dismembered condition. I saw his death. And it was the controller who placed those two helicopters in the same vicinity. It was not until he realized his error that he tried to make a quick change. It was too late. Gavin was descending to make a left around the tower, standard moves to land at Pacific Coast pad ... and the R44 climbed right into the bottom of Gavin, probably saving his life."People get real use to having someone else control their lives ... but in that situation, it makes sense to remain vigilant to your own well being. I had problems after seeing that. I sought no help, but it really took a lot away from me."
About the Blogger
Larry Altman has covered crime in the South Bay since 1990. He's seen it all - the missing model who turned up dead in the desert, the wives found dead in trunks, the high-school coaches who get a little too close to their players. He drives his young colleagues nuts with his "I remember when" stories. He welcomes your tips and observations about the present, and you can mix in a little Lakers basketball talk if you like.
E-mail Larry at larry.altman@dailybreeze.com.
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