At a Glance
- Two Enstrom helicopters collided midair over southern New Jersey on Dec. 28.
- Both pilots, Kenneth Kirsch (65) and Michael Greenberg (71), died.
- The crash occurred just a mile and a half from Hammonton Municipal Airport.
- Why it matters: The tragedy highlights the risks of small-aircraft operations and the community impact of sudden loss.
A helicopter collision over southern New Jersey sent shockwaves through the local community. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, Dec. 28 at 11:25 a.m., involved two Enstrom model 280C and F-28A helicopters that had just departed from Hammonton Municipal Airport. Authorities say the aircraft collided within moments of takeoff.
Police Chief Kevin Friel said the collision happened “probably just a moment or two after their flight started.” The wreckage was found in a field and tree line along the 100 block of Basin Road, about 1.5 miles from the airport. One helicopter burst into flames, while the other crashed into the tree line.
Hammonton firefighters quickly extinguished the burning helicopter, and local residents helped remove the pilot from the crashed aircraft. The pilot of the F-28A, identified as Kenneth Kirsch of Carney’s Point, was flown to Cooper Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The pilot of the 280C, identified as Michael Greenberg of Sewell, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The two pilots were friends who often had breakfast together at Apron Café, located near the crash site about 35 miles southeast of Philadelphia. Sal Silipino, the café owner, described the moment:
> “I was talking to the customers and we looked up and I see one spiraling… I didn’t see them collide or anything. I see the one go down and then the other one go down. And at first I was a little bit in shock. Did they just crash? Was that real what I saw? And then it was all over. We saw all the smoke. It was terrifying.”
A resident, Dan Dameshek, shared a video with NBC10 showing smoke billowing from the crash. He recalled the sound of a loud snap and the sight of the helicopters spinning out of control:
> “I was coming back from the gym when I heard a loud snap and then looked up to see the two helicopters spinning out of control. Immediately, the first helicopter went from right side up to upside down and started rapidly spinning, falling out of the air. And then it looked like the second helicopter was okay for a second, and then it sounded like another snap or something… and then that helicopter started rapidly spinning out of the air.”
SkyForce10 was also over the scene, confirming both helicopters crashed in a field. Another witness, Caitlyn Collins, was among the first responders at the site. She told NBC10 that she held the hand of the pilot, later identified as Kenneth Kirsch, and reassured him:
> “I just held his hand and said, ‘Everything is going to be OK. Everyone is coming for you. We all know you’re here. You’re safe here. The sirens are for you. They’re on their way. You just got to stay.'”
Caitlyn added that she had no idea there was a second pilot in a different helicopter who was also killed.
Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the crash. The investigation is ongoing, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.
Key Takeaways
- The collision involved two Enstrom helicopters departing from Hammonton Municipal Airport on Dec. 28.
- Both pilots, Kenneth Kirsch and Michael Greenberg, died in the crash.
- The FAA and NTSB are conducting a joint investigation into the incident.
The community continues to mourn the loss of two friends and pilots whose lives were tragically cut short in a sudden midair collision.
