Three-man crew lost in Guard helicopter crash were experienced pilots The Associated Press January 22 Three National Guardsmen were killed when their helicopter crashed in Mendon, NY, Jan. 20, 2021. They are, from left: Chief Warrant Officer 5 Steven Skoda, 54; Chief Warrant Officer 4 Christian Koch, 39 and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Prial, 30. (New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs via AP) MENDON, N.Y. The three National Guard members killed when a helicopter crashed in an upstate New York field this week were experienced pilots with past deployments to Afghanistan, officials said Friday. Killed in the crash were New York residents Chief Warrant Officer 5 Steven Skoda, 54, of Rochester, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Christian Koch, 39, of Honeoye Falls, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Prial, 30 of Rochester, according to the National Guard.
Warwick native Daniel Prial among the three National Guardsmen killed in upstate helicopter accident Daniel Prial via LinkedIn.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Prial, 30, a Warwick native and U.S. Military Academy at West Point graduate, died Wednesday when the military helicopter he was in crashed near Mendon in upstate New York.
The New York Army National Guard UH-60 medical evacuation helicopter crashed while on a routine training mission just after 6:30 p.m. The helicopter, also known as a medical Black Hawk, was based at the Army Aviation Support Facility at the Greater Rochester International Airport. The unit trains to perform medical evacuations and the crew was conducting night vision goggle proficiency training in the area.
MENDON, N.Y. (AP) The three National Guard members killed when a helicopter crashed in an upstate New York field this week were experienced pilots with past deployments to Afghanistan, officials said Friday.
Killed in the crash were Chief Warrant Officer 5 Steven Skoda, 54, of Rochester, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Christian Koch, 39, of Honeoye Falls, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Prial, 30 of Rochester, according to the National Guard.
The UH-60 Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopter crashed in a farmer’s field near Mendon, south of Rochester, around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. There were no survivors.
The crew had been conducting night vision goggle proficiency training in the local training area, the National Guard said. The helicopter was based at the Army Aviation Support Facility at Rochester International Airport.
A family s holiday party in Milmont Park, Delaware County, turned out to be its own superspreader event.
Skoda s awards included the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the NATO Medal, the Meritorious Unit Citation, the Army Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon, the Department of State Superior Honor Award, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Master Army Aviator Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation.
He was a friend and mentor to all the Soldiers in his unit, supporting the training and career progressions of hundreds of aircrews throughout his career, according to Soldiers at the flight facility.
3 National Guard members who died in New York helicopter crash identified Victoria E. Freile, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
National Guard members die in NY helicopter crash
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ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Authorities have identified the three National Guard members killed Wednesday night when the military helicopter they were flying crashed in a Mendon field.
Killed were Chief Warrant Officer 5 Steven Skoda, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Christian Koch and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Prial.
A New York Army National Guard UH-60 medical evacuation helicopter crashed on a routine training mission after 6:30 p.m. EST Wednesday in a field in Mendon.