The skies over Hammonton fell devastatingly silent late last month after two helicopters collided in mid-air, killing both pilots and leaving residents shaken.
The crash occurred shortly after 11:25 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, just moments after the helicopters lifted off from Hammonton Municipal Airport. The aircraft – an Enstrom 280C and an Enstrom F-28A – collided above a rural stretch near Basin Road before plunging into nearby fields and backyards.
Authorities identified the pilots as Michael Greenberg, 71, of Sewell, Gloucester County; and Kenneth L. Kirsch, 65, of Carneys Point, Salem County. The longtime friends were experienced aviators who regularly flew together.
According to investigators, both helicopters had departed the airport within minutes of each other. Witnesses reported seeing the helicopters flying unusually close before the collision.
Greenberg was pronounced dead at the scene. Kirsch, who was initially alive and conscious when neighbors rushed to help, later died at Cooper University Hospital in Camden after being medevaced.
Among the first to respond was Caitlyn Collins, who was asleep in her Hammonton home when the crash unfolded in her backyard.
“It was just surreal,” Collins later told the Associated Press. “You never expect to wake up and see something like that.”
Collins, her husband and a neighbor (an off-duty police officer) ran toward the wreckage. As emergency crews made their way to the scene, Collins stayed with the injured pilot, holding his hand and speaking to him in an effort to keep him calm.
“I just wanted him to know he wasn’t alone,” Collins said.
The loss has reverberated through the local aviation community, particularly at the Hammonton airport, where both men were well known.
Friends and business owners said Greenberg and Kirsch often met for breakfast at the Apron Café, located at the airport, before taking to the skies. On the morning of the crash, several patrons reportedly watched the helicopters depart and witnessed the tragedy.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are continuing their investigation into the cause of the accident. Hammonton Municipal Airport does not have an air traffic control tower. This means that pilots must rely on radio communication and visual awareness to maintain safe separation.
Federal officials have emphasized that mid-air collisions at small general-aviation airports are rare. A preliminary report is expected in the coming weeks, though a final determination of cause could take months or longer.
As of this week, debris has been cleared from the crash site, but the emotional impact remains. Neighbors along Basin Road say the sound of helicopters overhead now carries a different weight. Helicopters are common at the Hammonton Municipal Airport, which is home to the New Jersey State Police Aviation Bureau for South Jersey.
In the aftermath, residents have reflected not only on the sudden loss of life, but also on the compassion shown in its wake. The kindness of strangers and support of first responders give Hammonton residents hope.
“It’s something you don’t forget,” Collins said. “But it also reminds you how people show up for each other when it matters most.”
Sarah Fertsch of Egg Harbor Township holds a Bachelors of Arts in Public Relations. She is a locally reknown poet, storyteller, and dog lover.
