More detail on this person: A/C accident working for P.H.I. Copter pilot feared dead in mishap MORGAN CITY (AP) - A retired military pilot was feared dead Saturday night on his first solo commercial mission into the Gulf of Mexico oilfields. "I think we should consider it a fatal accident, based on the debris that was found," said Jim Michelle, director of personnel relations for the Lafayette-based Petroleum Helicopters. Michelle identified the missing pilot as Henry Groce, 40, of Columbus, Ga., a retired Army helicopter pilot who four weeks ago joined the company whose aircraft shuttle personnel to oil rig platforms in the Gulf. Michelle and the Coast Guard said Groce flew a training mission from Morgan City to the Marsh Island platform, landed and then radioed he was returning to Morgan City. Michelle said it was Groce's first solo flight in a four-passenger helicopter since joining the firm. "It was his first solo flight, but he was an experienced pilot in the military," said Michelle. A Coast Guard spokesman, Lt. Chris Bonner, said a helicopter began searching the Gulf after Groce was reported overdue at 4 p.m. Bonner said the cutter Point Sal was dispatched from Grand Isle to inspect wreckage that was discovered about 40 miles south southwest of Morgan City.
Burial information: Fort Benning Post Cemetery, Fort Benning, GA
This information was last updated 08/19/2018
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Date posted on this site: 01/11/2025
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