A federal study says a medical helicopter pilot reported being lower on fuel than he realized before crashing southeast of Saint Joseph. All four people on board the LifeNet helicopter were killed in the August 26th crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board has released a preliminary report saying the pilot reported having two hours of fuel when he left Saint Joseph to retrieve a patient in Bethany. But at the Bethany hospital the pilot reported he had less fuel than he originally thought.
The pilot decided to stop en route for fuel and then deliver his patient to Liberty Hospital. But 30 minutes after takeoff the chopper crashed.