Helicopter pilot was in contact with air traffic control before fatal Houston crash

A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board reveals that a helicopter pilot was in communication with air traffic control when the aircraft crashed into a radio tower in Houston on October 20, killing all four people on board. Pilot Samantha Grandbouche had just taken off for a sightseeing tour when she was instructed to maintain distance from another helicopter. The report states that communication ended abruptly before the crash, which occurred about 100 feet from the top of the 1,003-foot tower. The helicopter exploded upon impact, with parts embedded in the tower. The victims included Grandbouche and her family. The tower's owner, SBA Communications, confirmed no outages and is cooperating with the investigation, which is ongoing. A final report is expected in 18 to 24 months.