James Landis, 25, had been with MedEvac for only four months prior to the crash of the helicopter on April 28, 1982. Shortly after lift off from the scene of a violent auto crash, the helicopter Jim was piloting crashed resulting in the death of the entire crew and the patient.<br />
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Witnesses said the aircraft traveled a quarter of a mile over a hill where it plunged into a freshly planted oatfield, exploding into a ball of fire. Jim felt that saving the lives of critical, patients was a team effort between the flight crew and the hospital.<br />
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In high school Jim played football and was on the track team. He started working for Keystone Helicopter in September, 1981 and joined his current crew a few months before his death. Previously he had operated a helicopter picking up money at Philadelphia banks after landing on the roofs of the banks at night.<br />
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At the time of his death Jim was engaged and was to be married later in the year.<br />
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Honored 1998 |