Tragedy in Kernersville: Fatal Helicopter Crash During 1984 Rescue Attempt

On the evening of September 25, 1984, a tragic accident unfolded in downtown Kernersville, North Carolina, during a desperate attempt to rescue an injured worker trapped atop a decommissioned water tower. What began as a high-stakes rescue operation soon turned into a devastating catastrophe, claiming the lives of two individuals and leaving a lasting impact on the local emergency response community. The events of that night remain a significant chapter in Kernersville’s history, illustrating the perils of rescue missions and the bravery of first responders.

The Incident Begins

The chain of events started around 6:10 p.m. when 19-year-old Charles Glenwood Tompkins Jr. was working atop the old water tower, which was in the process of being dismantled. He was cutting a 20-foot section of metal from the top of one of the tower’s legs when the metal beam unexpectedly fell in the wrong direction, crushing his legs. Tompkins was left trapped 92 feet above the ground, bleeding profusely and in excruciating pain.

Upon receiving reports of the accident, multiple emergency response units rushed to the scene. The Kernersville Fire Department, Forsyth County EMS, Forsyth Rescue Squad, and Winston-Salem Fire Department all mobilized in a coordinated effort to reach the injured worker. Initial attempts to rescue him proved to be extraordinarily difficult due to the tower’s height and structural complexity.

Challenges in the Rescue Operation

The first responders quickly realized the difficulty of reaching Tompkins. The Winston-Salem Fire Department deployed a 75-foot aerial truck, but it fell short of reaching the top of the tower. A cherry picker from a local tree service company, F.H. Goode’s, was then brought in, but even its 90-foot reach was inadequate.

As time passed, Tompkins’ condition deteriorated. Paramedic Allen Mock from Forsyth County EMS and Bruce Hatton from the Winston-Salem Rescue Squad made the courageous decision to climb the tower and attempt a direct rescue. When they reached Tompkins, they initially planned to carry him down manually, but they soon realized he was too weak and had lost too much blood to hold on during the descent.

The rescuers then tried lowering him with a rope, but as he continued to lose consciousness, his full weight pressed against his safety belt and chain, making it impossible to move him. As Mock and Hatton struggled to find a solution, it became clear that they needed an aerial extraction—something that had never been attempted in Forsyth County before.

The Decision to Use a Helicopter

With few options left, Dr. Lew W. Stringer, the county medical examiner overseeing the rescue, decided to call for a helicopter to assist. He reached out to WFMY, a local news station, which rented its helicopter from Triad Helicopter. It was determined that Triad Helicopter’s Bell 206 aircraft was the nearest available helicopter, and pilot Thomas Haroski, an experienced but relatively untested rescue pilot, was dispatched.

By the time the helicopter arrived, landing at a nearby football field at Kernersville Junior High School, Tompkins’ condition had worsened significantly. Though he was still alive when the aircraft arrived, he was rapidly slipping away. Forsyth Rescue Squad member Steve Richey boarded the helicopter to assist in the rescue effort.

The Fatal Crash

At approximately 9:13 p.m., the helicopter took off and headed toward the water tower. Mock and Hatton remained with Tompkins at the top of the tower, desperately waiting for the aerial extraction. However, by the time the helicopter reached its hovering position, Tompkins had succumbed to his injuries. The rescue operation had now become a recovery mission.

As the helicopter hovered above the tower, a rope was lowered to the rescuers, but they struggled to reach it. The aircraft attempted to descend further to bring the rope within reach, but tragedy struck at 9:46 p.m. Due to poor visibility and the pilot’s limited view of the tower legs, the helicopter’s tail rotor struck one of the steel beams.

Spectators on the ground—numbering around 350—watched in horror as the aircraft lurched forward uncontrollably. The main rotor then struck another tower leg, causing the helicopter to pitch forward and crash into the rear of a two-story building at 114 W. Mountain Street. The building housed apartments and a barbershop, which were immediately engulfed in flames.

Both pilot Thomas Haroski and Steve Richey were killed instantly in the crash. The impact caused fires to break out on the building’s roof and inside the apartments. A gas leak followed, further complicating firefighting efforts. It took responders 45 minutes to fully control the gas leak and contain the fires.

Aftermath and Investigation

As emergency crews battled the flames, Mock and Hatton carefully climbed back down from the tower, still in shock from the devastating turn of events. The recovery operation continued throughout the night. The body of the pilot was removed first, while Richey’s body remained trapped inside the wreckage until firefighters extinguished the flames.

In the days that followed, an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) identified several contributing factors to the crash. The findings included:

• Limited visibility for the pilot, especially regarding the tower’s structural components.
• Inadequate air-to-ground communication, as Hatton and Dr. Stringer had attempted to warn the pilot about his altitude but were unable to get a response.
• Lack of experience in this type of rescue mission, as neither the pilot nor the crew had previously conducted such an aerial operation.
• Poor decision-making under pressure, with the pilot descending too low despite warnings from the ground.

The report ultimately concluded that the pilot misjudged his clearance, leading to the fatal collision.

A Community in Mourning

The loss of Steve Richey was particularly devastating to the local rescue community. At just 33 years old, Richey was considered one of the most experienced and dedicated members of the Forsyth Rescue Squad. His wife later recounted how their entire life had revolved around his work in emergency response.

Though Haroski had logged over 2,000 hours of helicopter flight time, he had never flown a mission like this before. His inexperience in aerial rescue situations likely played a role in the tragedy.

Lessons Learned

In the aftermath of the accident, local and state emergency response agencies reassessed their helicopter rescue protocols. Many questioned whether a military helicopter or a construction crane should have been used instead. The lack of a structured aerial rescue program in Forsyth County was widely criticized, leading to improvements in training and communication for future incidents.

Additionally, the incident underscored the importance of establishing clearer protocols for rescue operations at extreme heights. The Kernersville tragedy served as a painful lesson for emergency responders across the country, reinforcing the dangers of complex rescue missions and the need for proper planning and execution.

Conclusion

The events of September 25, 1984, remain one of Kernersville’s most harrowing tragedies. A rescue operation that began with the hope of saving a young worker ultimately led to the loss of three lives—Charles Tompkins Jr., Thomas Haroski, and Steve Richey. The heroism displayed by emergency personnel that night, despite the ultimate outcome, serves as a testament to the dedication of first responders who risk their lives to save others.

Today, the memory of that tragic night lingers as both a cautionary tale and a tribute to those who perished in the line of duty. The lessons learned have undoubtedly shaped future rescue operations, ensuring that such a heartbreaking disaster is never repeated.