CTV (Canada) Cameraman killed in chopper crash

[Randy Steinman]

From Canadian newswire services..

URGENT-Helicopter-Crash,
INDEX:Transport
Update:CONFIRMS death of cameraman; will be updated
CTV cameraman one of two people to die in helicopter crash in Quebec

MONT-LAURIER, Quebec - CTV is confirming that one of its cameramen died with another man in a helicopter crash about 240 kilometres northwest of Montreal this morning.
The network says Hugh Haugland, 44, died in the crash in Mont-Laurier.
Haugland is the son of former CTV anchorman Bill Haugland.
The other victim was Roger Belanger, a veteran pilot who was in his 60s.
Hugh Haugland was in the helicopter to shoot wreckage of a tornado that struck Mont-Laurier on Tuesday.
One witness told all-news channel RDI the chopper was burning after it crashed just off Highway 117 and that there was nothing to do save the occupants. (The Canadian Press)

[The Fedora]

oh man... They are in my thoughts.

[Calvin]

So sorry to hear that. My thoughts are with their families, friends and colleagues.

[Desert Rat]

Very sorry to hear that, my thoughts are with the families..

[wx or not]

Bless them and their families.

[s'news]

Every time I go up in a helicopter, I have a bad feeling.

My best wishes and condolences to anybody with any connection.

[Sigonfile]

CEN09WA506On August 5, 2009, at 1000 eastern daylight time, an Enstrom F28C helicopter, Canadian registered C-GVQQ, registered to a private individual and piloted by the accident pilot, was destroyed when it impacted wires and terrain near Mont-Laurier Airport (CSD4), Mont-Laurier, Quebec, Canada. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The accident flight originated from CSD4.

The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Canadian government. This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the Canadian government. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from:

Transportation Safety Board of Canada
Air Investigations Branch
Gatineau, Quebec
Canada

[Sultanosurf]

Yet another casualty added to the long list of news crews lost in the air.

Your heart goes out to the families of Haugland and the pilot:

Haugland worked at CTV for 24 years, and was the son of former CTV anchor Bill Haugland.

The elder Haugland struggled to deal with what he called ``his own heartbreak,'' while at the same time trying to tell family members across the continent the news before they found it on the Internet, all the while graciously fielding phone calls from numerous journalists.

``I understand the nature of the beast,'' Haugland said. ``And I think Hugh would have wanted it this way.''

There are reports of the chopper hitting power wires, but it sounds like there could also have been other issues:

"...it took three attempts to start the engine, but there were no troubles while in flight. ...The cause of the crash is still unknown, but witnesses said the helicopter sounded like it was having mechanical problems before it went down."

http://www.vancouversun.com/Cameraman+dies+covering+Quebec+tornado/1864260/story.html