Two people were airlifted to the hospital with serious injuries after their helicopter crashed near the Prineville Airport on Saturday.
Prineville Police Chief Jeff Profio said the crash occurred around 11:35 a.m. Saturday south of SW Houston Lake Road near the Crook County Landfill. The privately owned helicopter crashed into an open field about 200 yards from the road. Several people called 911 to report the crash.
The Prineville Review, the first media to arrive on the scene, shared a photo with Central Oregon Daily of the small, two-seat helicopter, which was severely damaged on the ground.
According to Profio, the 80-year-old male pilot and 46-year-old male passenger suffered serious injuries and were treated on the scene before being airlifted to Bend. Their conditions were unknown as of 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
No one on the ground was injured, and no property damage was reported.
Police provided no initial indication as to what caused the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will conduct the investigation.
Reference: 2 seriously injured in helicopter crash near Prineville Airport