Questions raised in USCG case against pilot of deadly helicopter crash

The Coast Guard is blaming a helicopter pilot for negligently flying into power lines and causing a crash that killed three crewmembers in Washington State in 2010.

But questions are being raised about whether the USCG is making Lt. Leone the scapegoat for its own negligence.  

Lt. Lance Leone, 31, faces possible court martial and 7 ½ years in prison if convicted for negligent homicide.

The power lines in question are strung 1,900 feet between LaPush and James Island.

The USCG was in charge of maintaining the lines and there have been other accidents involving them. In a 1961 fatal accident, a federal appeals court ruled that the USCG did not exercise “reasonable care” by not installing warning devices. In the late-1950s there was another collision involving the same lines.

Leone’s father, George, claims that the cables were unmarked and that orange warning balls were close to the poles instead of in the middle of the span.

"And the sole survivor, they're trying to blame him," said George Leone. "It's just unbelievable."

Lt. Lance Leone has been awarded numerous awards, including commendation medals.

Leone is charged with negligent homicide, dereliction of duty and destruction of government property. He stands accused of failure to properly navigate the helicopter to miss charted hazards and that he failed to fly at a higher altitude. It is alleged he flew “without proper authority” and caused the destruction of the $18.3 million CG-6017.

He is charged with the deaths of Adam C. Hoke and Lt. Sean Kruger but not of Brett Banks, the other pilot. His defense attorney says the government has not explained why this is so.

Sandra Banks said she and her husband met with Leone this summer and considers the Leone’s to be as family. She believes the accident was caused by improperly marked cables.