Two experienced helicopter pilots shared a friendly breakfast at their local airport café, then died minutes later when their aircraft collided in midair after flying dangerously close together during takeoff.
Story Highlights
- Michael Greenberg, 71, and Kenneth Kirsch, 65, were regular customers at Hammonton Municipal Airport café before the fatal collision
- Witnesses described the helicopters flying in tandem “too close together” shortly after 11:25 a.m. departure
- One Enstrom helicopter burst into flames in a field while the other spun out of control into a residential backyard
- The tragedy occurred in uncontrolled airspace where pilots must rely on see-and-avoid procedures without tower guidance
A Routine Morning Turns Deadly
The morning started like countless others at Hammonton Municipal Airport. Two seasoned pilots, Michael Greenberg and Kenneth Kirsch, enjoyed breakfast at the airport café where they were known as regulars. At 71 and 65 respectively, both men had decades of flying experience. Greenberg piloted his privately-owned Enstrom 280C helicopter, while Kirsch operated an Enstrom F-28A registered to a Lancaster, Pennsylvania charter company.
What happened next transformed a peaceful Sunday morning into a nightmare that witnesses will never forget. Shortly after 11:25 a.m., both helicopters lifted off and began flying in tandem formation, maintaining what multiple observers described as an alarmingly close distance between the aircraft.
Witness Horror Unfolds
Diana Cleuff of Shamong, New Jersey, watched in disbelief as the drama unfolded above. She immediately recognized something was wrong with how close the helicopters were flying to each other. Her worst fears materialized when the aircraft collided in midair near Route 30 and Basin Road, approximately one mile from the airport. The impact sent both helicopters into devastating death spirals.
The first helicopter, piloted by Greenberg, crashed in an open field and immediately erupted in flames. The second aircraft, with Kirsch at the controls, spun wildly out of control before plummeting into the backyard of Caitlyn Collins’ Hammonton home. The residential crash site added another layer of terror to an already horrific scene, though miraculously no ground casualties occurred.
The Unforgiving Physics of Close Formation Flying
Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel didn’t mince words when describing the probable cause. “Flying in tandem, close together, which is probably what caused the collision,” he told reporters. His assessment aligns with fundamental aviation safety principles that govern helicopter operations. Unlike fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters create complex rotor wash patterns that can destabilize nearby aircraft without warning.
The incident highlights critical vulnerabilities in uncontrolled airspace operations. Hammonton Municipal Airport operates without a control tower, meaning pilots must coordinate their own movements using see-and-avoid procedures. This system works well when pilots maintain proper separation distances, but becomes deadly when aircraft fly too close together during critical phases of flight like takeoff and initial climb.
Investigation Reveals Preventable Tragedy
The National Transportation Safety Board launched a comprehensive investigation examining three key factors: the pilots, the aircraft, and environmental conditions. Both Enstrom helicopters involved were light turbine models known for their agility in training and personal flight operations. However, this same agility becomes a liability when flying in close formation without proper coordination and communication protocols.
Greenberg was pronounced dead at the crash scene, while Kirsch fought for his life after being rushed to a local hospital in critical condition. Despite medical efforts, Kirsch succumbed to his injuries on Monday, making this New Jersey’s deadliest civilian helicopter accident in recent memory. The fact that both men were experienced pilots who knew each other personally makes their deaths even more tragic and puzzling.
Sources:
ABC7 News – Both pilots killed after midair helicopter collision in Hammonton, New Jersey
CBS Philadelphia – Hammonton New Jersey helicopter crash pilots identified
