Lets pray that these guys are ok!!


Posted: 08/19/2009 03:57:21 PM MDT
Updated: 08/19/2009 04:29:09 PM MDT

A Black Hawk helicopter crashed on Mount Massive, about 15 miles southwest of Leadville, at about 2 p.m. today, Max Duarte of the Lake County Sheriff's Department said this afternoon.

Initially the sheriff's department identified the e helicopter as being out of Fort Carson's Special Operations Aviation Regiment.

However, two different spokespersons for Fort Carson said the helicopter is not from the base and "all Fort Carson helicopters have been accounted for."

Allen Kenitzer, spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said four people were on board and that injuries have been reported as well as damage to the aircraft.

Duarte said that two Flight for Life helicopters had landed at the scene of the crash. In addition, various search and rescue teams are at the site along with officers from the Lake County Sheriff's Department.

He said the crash was first reported by U.S. Forest Service teams who were cutting trails through the mountain area.

The teams heard the crash but did not see it, he said.

Capt. Michael Odgers of the Colorado Army National Guard said the helicopter is not one of their aircraft.

"We are trying to determine whose it is," he said.

Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13161807