Tragedy Strikes: WPVI News Helicopter Crash Leaves Two Dead

On December 19, 2023, a helicopter crashed, killing pilot Monroe Smith and photographer Chris Dougherty of WPVI.Photo byWPVI

This tragic incident unfolded when a Philadelphia news helicopter, Chopper 6, crashed in a wooded area of Washington Township, New Jersey, claiming the lives of both occupants: pilot Monroe Smith and photographer Christopher Dougherty. They were returning from covering the Jersey Shore for WPVI, where they had served on the news team for years.

The New Jersey State Park Service was alerted to the helicopter's disappearance at 10:50 p.m. Soon after, at 12:02 a.m., an officer discovered a debris field spanning approximately 100 yards. Investigators are diligently interviewing witnesses who saw the chopper that fateful night to piece together the events leading to the crash.

On December 19, 2023, a news helicopter belonging to a Philadelphia television station owned by ABC crashed in a southern New Jersey.Photo byWPVI

The helicopter took off from northeast Philadelphia, covering Christmas light activity, before heading back. Todd Gunther, an air safety investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), noted that preliminary data showed the helicopter was on course during the incident, despite the clear, cold weather that evening.

Gunther shared the expected timeline for the NTSB's investigation process: a preliminary report within 10 to 15 days, followed by a factual report after 18 months, and ultimately, a statement on probable cause in one to two months after that. These details underscore the meticulous nature of the inquiry into this devastating crash.