JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A civilian helicopter pilot from Seattle was the first witness to testify at an Article 32 hearing in Juneau, being held to help decide whether the sole survivor of a fatal Coast Guard helicopter crash will face court-martial.
Lt. Lance Leone is charged with negligent homicide in the crash off LaPush, Wash., in July 2010 that killed three colleagues.
Jennifer Boyer said she was at Long Beach that morning, and saw a Coast Guard helicopter fly low and fast overheard. She estimated the speed at least at 100 knots and said she never saw a helicopter fly that fast or close to shore before
On cross examination, she acknowledged she sent an email to a Coast Guard official in which she said she wasn’t good at estimating flight speeds.