Boeing's CH-47D Chinook 90-00195.

90-00195

Last known photograph of 90-00195 before the crash.

90-00195, Boeing D model kit number M3347, was a CH-47D helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 28 February 1991. As of 22 June 1998, 90-00195 had accumulated 1,285.9 D model hours and 4,723.9 total aircraft hours. 90-00195 was a conversion from the original C model Chinook 68-15864. On 23 March 1990, 90-00195 was inducted into the D model program, converted, and initially scheduled for assignment to Company G - "Delta Schooners, 140th Aviation Regiment, Army National Guard, located in Stockton, California, on or about 12 March 1991. On 29 May 2002, 90-00195 was lost in an accident near Farmington, California. While attempting an aft gear only landing on a pinnacle, the aft rotor system made contact with the ground initiating the aircraft destruction. As of 1 January 2002, this aircraft was 32.7 years old. The last known location of 90-00195 was near Farmington, California. Aircraft status: Crashed.

National Guard Chinook Crashes

29 May 2002

FARMINGTON, California -- An Army National Guard helicopter on a training mission crashed into a hillside in northern Stanislaus County Wednesday afternoon. Authorities said the three soldiers on board survived the fiery crash with only minor cuts and bruises.

A cattle rancher on the William Snow ranch off Highway 4 and Milton Road saw smoke billowing from a hillside on his property around 2:15 pm Wednesday. Loren Mrnak said he saw the wreckage of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter burning and found three military men nearby. One of the crew members used Mrnak's cellular phone to call 9-1-1 for help.

Over 10 acres of dry grass burned before firefighters from the California Department of Forestry were able to contain the spread. The remains of the helicopter were spread across a wide area and only a partial frame of the aircraft and broken rotor blades were distinguishable.

"These men are very lucky to be alive," said Colonel Daniel Nelan. "They didn't suffer any serious injuries and were taken to the hospital to be checked out."

Nelan is the Director of Aviation Safety for the Army National Guard stationed in Sacramento. He flew to the scene Wednesday afternoon to coordinate the investigation into the crash. "We will have a full investigation completed by the Army's Accident Investigation Team from Ft. Rucker, Alabama."

"This is a routine training area for the National Guard and they were on a routine training mission out of Stockton," said Nelan. "The cause is yet to be determined."

Deputies from the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department were guarding the crash scene late Wednesday awaiting the arrival of the military team Thursday morning.