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Monday, June 15, 2009

Memorial Today for Copter Pilot


Journal and Wire Report
          The two victims of a mountain rescue helicopter crash will be remembered at services today.
        State Police Sgt. Andrew Tingwall, 36, was killed when a helicopter he was piloting crashed in the Sangre de Cristos after he and another officer rescued a lost hiker.
        His memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. at the Santa Fe Municipal Airport's Hangar G.
        State Police are awaiting results of an investigation into the crash that killed Tingwall and the hiker, a University of New Mexico student. Apparently, Tingwall and the student, Megumi Yamamoto, were wearing their safety belts during the flight but were thrown from the helicopter after it crashed.
        A memorial for Yamamoto will be held today from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Salazar and Sons Mortuary, 400 Third SW.
        Authorities believe Tingwall saw a break in the clouds and decided to attempt the rescue. But after getting Yamamoto on board and lifting off, heavy clouds quickly rolled in. The helicopter's tail rotor may have clipped a tree, causing the crash.
        Yamamoto's mother arrived in Albuquerque from Tokyo on Saturday to collect her daughter's body.
        Junko Yamamoto was overcome by emotion upon her arrival as she read a prepared statement. A family member took over for her.
        "I still don't believe what happened to my daughter. I haven't seen her yet. I don't know any details about this accident. I just wish it had been happening in my dream, not reality," Junko Yamamoto said in the statement.
        Junko Yamamoto said she had heard very little about her daughter's death from Japanese news.
        She said she is thankful to those who tried to save her daughter's life.
        "I would like to express my sincere gratitude for all people in this rescue mission," she said.
        Megumi Yamamoto was studying physics at UNM and had only been at the university for a short time. Junko Yamamoto said she will visit the UNM campus and meet her daughter's friends to understand her daughter's life in Albuquerque.
       

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