LOGAN – The family of a lifelong coal miner has filed a lawsuit alleging several entities, including AEP and the City of Logan, are responsible for his death in a helicopter crash earlier this year.
Jason Michael Collins, as administrator of the estate of Jack Collins, filed his complaint November 16 in Logan Circuit Court against American Electric Power Company Inc., United Affiliates Corporation, Marpat Aviation LLC, Gordon F. Prescott and the City of Logan.
“Jack Collins was a wonderful man,” attorney Ben Salango told The West Virginia Record. “He worked in the coal mines his entire life and was planning to enjoy his retirement with family and friends.
Salango
“Our investigation has revealed that this crash was entirely preventable, and we intend to hold those who contributed to Mr. Collins’ death accountable.”
According to the complaint, Jack Collins was a passenger June 22 in a Huey helicopter owned and operated by Marpat when it crashed and was consumed by fire after striking a series of overhead power line owned by AEP on land owned by UAC. Prescott, who lives in Mercer County, is the owner of the Bell Huey helicopter that crashed and killed Collins and other occupants.
Collins and five others on board died in the crash. The son of Marvin Bledsoe, another passenger on the helicopter, filed a lawsuit November 11 in Logan Circuit Court as well. The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report on the crash said the helicopter hit two power cables before crashing into a rock face. The final report has not been released.
During the week of June 21-26, Logan held its annual Freedom Festival. The complaint says the city promoted the event by selling t-shirts that showed Marpat’s Huey helicopter. In social media posts, Logan’s mayor and Marpat’s Michael Holbrook designated the slogan of the 2022 event as “Shoot the Fireworks Off” and identified the helicopter as a “symbol of our festival.”
The complaint says the helicopter was used to provide ride and sightseeing tours during the festival and other Logan-based events. On June 22, Collins was a passenger on the last flight of the day when the helicopter struck unmarked power lines and crashed, killing all occupants including Collins.
It says the power lines were run at or above 200 feet above the ground, which is in violation of Federal Aviation Administration rules, and should have been marked with warning devices to protect aircraft. It says AEP should have known of the risks and had marked similar lines in the area. It also says Marpat knew the helicopter was more than 60 years old, identified as “experimental” and couldn’t offer flights for payment.
The complaint accuses AEP, UAC, Marpat, Prescott and Logan of negligence. It also accuses AEP of strict liability. The family seeks joint and several compensatory and punitive damages, pre- and post-judgment interests, court costs, attorney fees and other relief.
The Collins estate is being represented by Salango, Patrick Salango and Christian Huffman of Salango Law in Charleston and by Robert V. Berthold Jr. and Robert V. Berthold III of Berthold Law Firm in Charleston.
Logan Circuit Court case number 22-C-129