Posted on:
Friday, August 11, 2000
01:00 PM
Two missing in Navy helicopter crash identified
By Dan Parker and Deborah Martinez
Caller-Times
U.S. Navy officials Friday morning identified two crewmen killed in a crash of a MH-53E helicopter, as they continue to look for two others who are missing and prepare to salvage the wreckage from the floor of the Gulf of Mexico.
The missing have been identified as Lt. Edward R. Fassnacht, 31, of Akron, Ohio, the co-pilot; and David E. Rutherford, 27, of Mason Town, Pa., who is an aviation machinist mate, second class.
The Navy identified the dead men as the pilot, Shawn O. Jacobs, 30, of Jefferson City, Mo., and Jeffrey S. Paschal, 40, of Phoenix. Yaklin is an aviation machinist mate, third class; Palyo, aviation machinist mate airman; Paschal, aviation machinist mate, first class.
Jeremy J. Yaklin, 19, of Lapeer, Mich., and Adan Shawn R. Palyo, 20, of Stratford, Conn., were hospitalized in stable condition Friday in Corpus Christi, authorities said. The search by air and sea for two other missing crewmen continued throughout Thursday night and into Friday.
Adm. Jose L. Betancourt and Cmdr. Bob Riehl visited the two injured in the hospital and said that Palyo suffered lacerations and is expected to be released from the intensive care unit today. Yaklin sustained an injured leg and a possible fractured pelvis and still is in ICU.
No memorial services have been planned yet, Navy officials said, and none is expected until the two missing men have been found.
The MH-53E helicopter, also known as a Sea Dragon, crashed in 50 feet of water Thursday morning during a training mission.
Early Friday, salvage crews hauled debris away from the waterline, where a helicopter blade, human remains and chunks of insulation washed ashore.
The Navy and Coast Guard are combing a 2-and-a half-by-2-and-a-half-mile area, and that they have located four yet-unidentified items on the Gulf’s floor. On Friday morning, searchers found an 18-by-4-foot item, which they believe may be part of the helicopter, said Navy Cmdr. Barry Coceano.
Six divers searched in about 51 to 60 feet of water on Friday in silty water that only provided about 4 feet of visibility, officials said.
The helicopter was practicing minesweeping about 17 miles offshore as part of a training mission when it reported a mechanical malfunction, Navy officials said. It was attempting to return to shore when it crashed.
Another helicopter taking part in the training mission spotted wreckage about 15 minutes after the distress call. The survivors floating in life jackets were rescued more than 30 minutes later.
Training flights will resume on Monday doing what we were doing just a couple of days ago, Riehl said.
The MH-53E is manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford, Conn. In 1996, a similar model, the CH-53E Super Stallion, crashed, killing four Sikorsky employees in Stratford. The Navy temporarily halted flights of all ``E'' models, including the Super Stallion and the Sea Dragon. A faulty bearing was blamed for the 1996 crash.
In addition to mine countermeasures, the MH-53E can be used to tow vessels, transport cargo and transport equipment. The helicopter can carry 55 passengers, or a 16-ton payload.
In 1991, six members of the same squadron were killed in the Persian Gulf when their Sea Dragon helicopter crashed after taking off from a ship north of Bahrain.
Dan Parker and Deborah Martinez can be reached at 886-3683 or by e-mail at metrodesk@caller.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
