Approximately 50 gallons of fuel ignited after the four-passenger helicopter struck the 999-foot guyed tower in Houston between the 600 and 700-foot levels. SBA Communications completed the purchase of the structure from Univision approximately ten days ago. Surveillance videos indicate that the obstruction lighting was operational at the time of the collision.
A surveillance video shows that the obstruction lighting was working before the helicopter collided with the tower.
UPDATE – October 22, 2024 – SBA Communications has released a press statement to address what it described as “incomplete and/or inaccurate information” circulating in news reports concerning the helicopter crash that occurred in Houston, Texas on Sunday. The accident involved the towerco’s 999-foot guyed tower that collapsed, resulting in four fatalities.
According to Wireless Estimator yesterday, a Notice to Air Mission (NOTAM) had been filed on October 17, 2024. However, SBA noted that many media outlets inaccurately inferred that the NOTAM indicated the tower’s obstruction lighting was non-functional, potentially causing the crash. SBA clarified that a NOTAM can be issued for a variety of reasons.
Although SBA did not state that the obstruction lighting system was operational, a homeowner’s surveillance camera video showed that the tower was lamped at the top and mid-level as the helicopter crashed into it.
SBA further explained that the NOTAM was filed as a precautionary step while integrating the recently acquired Univision tower into SBA’s Network Operations Center (NOC) for continuous monitoring.
“As part of our standard process for newly acquired sites, SBA ensured a NOTAM was in place for this site in order to exercise caution during the change of ownership while we integrate the site into our Network Operations Center (NOC) for continuous 24/7 monitoring pursuant to FAA and FCC regulations,” the company’s statement read.
Due to the ongoing investigation, SBA indicated it could not provide additional details at this time but assured that updates would be made available as the investigation progresses.
October 21, 2024 – A helicopter crashed into a radio transmission tower in Houston, Texas’s Greater East End neighborhood on Sunday night, resulting in the tragic deaths of all four people aboard, including a child. According to local officials, the incident occurred at approximately 7:54 p.m., setting off a chain of destruction and fire.
Witnesses described a fireball lighting the night sky as the private Robinson R44 helicopter struck the radio tower. The collision caused the tower to collapse, igniting a fire that spread across a grassy area spanning two to three city blocks. Fortunately, no casualties were reported on the ground, although the immediate area was filled with smoke and fire.
Videos show that the tower wasn’t dark
A surveillance camera video shows that the guyed tower’s top obstruction lighting was working when the helicopter crashed into the 999-foot tall structure owned by SBA Communications.
Although multiple surveillance videos taken shortly before the helicopter collided with the tower showed that the top beacon on the 999-foot guyed tower was operational, the intermediate lamping wasn’t visible. According to a search of recent NOTAMs (Notice to Air Missions) by Wireless Estimator, a NOTAM was filed on October 17, alerting pilots to a possible lighting outage.
Emergency responders from the Houston Fire Department arrived quickly, but the devastation was significant. “Y’all need to get out of the way,” a police officer shouted, urging onlookers to clear the dangerous scene as the fire grew. Nearby propane tanks posed additional risks but did not ignite, averting further disaster.
Multiple radio stations were knocked off the air
The tower was a key broadcast point for several radio stations, including Univision’s KLTN (102.9 FM) and KAMA-FM (104.9 FM), which were knocked off the air due to the crash. Another station, KCOH (1230 AM), also transmitted from the tower, though it needed to be clarified whether its signal was disrupted.
Although some news reports said the tower caught on fire, possibly causing it to collapse, industry observers believe the helicopter’s fuel ignited immediately following the collision, and the structure’s failure was caused by either a severed guy wire or structural damage that resulted in the collapse.
Univision walked away from tower ownership ten days ago
Univision owned the tower constructed in 1987. However, according to FCC records, the Miami-based broadcaster recently sold the tower to SBA Communications and other structures. According to an FCC filing, the change of ownership was effective on October 10, 2024, and it was likely that SBA filed the NOTAM shortly after obtaining ownership, a procedure followed by major towercos until such time as they can integrate a structure into their network system in their NOC that monitors lighting compliance.
Houston Police Chief J. Noe Diaz confirmed at a press briefing that the helicopter was carrying four individuals, including a child, all of whom are presumed dead. The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Initial reports last night suggested that the tower’s obstruction lighting was not operational at the time of the accident. However, the tower was not dark.
Surveillance videos show that the helicopter crashed into the tower at approximately the 650-foot level when obstruction lighting was present at the top of the structure.
Mayor John Whitmire, who visited the scene, expressed sorrow for the victims and relief that the incident did not cause more destruction. “Residents surround it, and we are fortunate it didn’t topple in one direction or another,” Whitmire said, emphasizing how close the tower was to nearby homes.
Some power outages were reported near the crash, though the exact number of impacted residents and the duration of the outages were not immediately apparent.
