New York City helicopter crash pilot 'did not know where he was'

A pilot who died after his helicopter crashed into the roof of a New York City skyscraper in rain and fog "did not know where he was", according to a preliminary report into what happened.

Just before Tim McCormack lifted off from a Manhattan heliport on 10 June, he told staff that radar showed a "20 minute window" to make it to the aircraft's home airport in Linden, New Jersey.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) also said on Tuesday that he had waited in the lounge ahead of the flight for two hours, continuously checking weather conditions on a tablet computer.

Federal investigators said the 58-year-old, who had 15 years' experience flying helicopters and single-engine aeroplanes, flew above the East River for several minutes before radioing that he was lost and trying to get back to the heliport.

However, Mr McCormack was not authorised to fly in limited visibility.

The NTSB said he moved erratically, changing course and altitude several times before making a sweeping turn and flying to within 152m (500ft) of the midtown Manhattan heliport.

The helicopter then reversed course again, zooming north past the Empire State Building and other landmarks before crashing into the top of the AXA Equitable building.

The impact destroyed the aircraft, sparked a fire and forced office workers to flee.

The preliminary report did not include any conclusions about the cause of the crash, but the details it contained pointed to the strong likelihood that bad weather played a role.

Linden Airport director Paul Dudley said Mr McCormack, a former fire chief, was a "highly seasoned" and "very well-regarded" pilot.