Bee blamed for causing helicopter crash. Who's really to blame?

Wood County authorities say an Oklahoma man was piloting a crop-dusting helicopter that crashed after a bee got sucked into the cockpit and stung him.

Deputy Ted Ashbeck says the chopper was only four feet off the ground, and the pilot was unhurt when the tail rotor smashed into the ground Friday.

Ashbeck says the pilot was spraying a cranberry marsh, where beehives are set up to promote pollination. As the helicopter flew above the hives, at least one bee was sucked inside.

Sixty-five-year-old Terry Solf of Aline, Okla., told investigators the bee stung him, diverting his attention just long enough for him to crash. No one else was aboard.

Solf says he's flown helicopters for more than 30 years.

Ashbeck says the chopper was "pretty banged up."

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It was really the bee's fault.
It was the pilot's fault. He is using a lame excuse.

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Sort By: Raves | Date Comments

raves [-] by kai posted Jul 23, 2008 09:43PM GMTJuly 23, 2008 21:43:57

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Answered It was the pilot's fault. He is using a lame excuse.
stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
raves [-] by ~Lissy~ posted Jul 17, 2008 11:17PM GMTJuly 17, 2008 23:17:48

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Answered It was the pilot's fault. He is using a lame excuse.
it's a bee. it stings you, you land the helicopter properly, take some Benadryl and go along your merry way. if you need to blame a bee for crashing a helicopter, maybe you should find another profession, or at least look at your life a bit better.
raves [-] by sweetie posted Jul 16, 2008 09:29PM GMTJuly 16, 2008 21:29:22

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Answered It was the pilot's fault. He is using a lame excuse.
and if you blame a bee, get a hold of yourself!! a pilot is trained to fly the helicopter and if he cant because of something that weighs as much as a speck of dust he just isnt cut out for the job now is he?!!!
raves [-] by fishlip posted Jul 15, 2008 07:23PM GMTJuly 15, 2008 19:23:40

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Answered It was the pilot's fault. He is using a lame excuse.
was this bee armed with air to air missles and 30mm cannon ? if not this pilot is totally to blame.
raves [-] by BellaMorte posted Jul 15, 2008 03:37PM GMTJuly 15, 2008 15:37:09

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Answered It was the pilot's fault. He is using a lame excuse.
Because he's such a sissy.
raves [-] by OM posted Jul 15, 2008 02:30PM GMTJuly 15, 2008 14:30:03 (edited)

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Answered It was really the bee's fault.
If anyone's ever been attacked by a bee or wasp, he knows how shakened-up it can be.

Actually it was an accident and the pilot is lucky he wasn't hurt badly or killed. My advice to him is to spray himself with insect repellant before flying such a mission or to carry a can of insecticide on board.
raves [-] by Juliana posted Jul 15, 2008 06:52AM GMTJuly 15, 2008 06:52:43

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Answered It was really the bee's fault.
a pilot with 30 years of experience wouldn't crash unless he was seriously distracted. Obviously, the bee caused the distraction!
raves [-] by jast posted Jul 15, 2008 05:26AM GMTJuly 15, 2008 05:26:23

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Answered It was really the bee's fault.
Them bee stings hurt like heck! I can't imagine trying to keep cool immediately after a sting.
raves [-] by SearchlightMasquerade posted Jul 15, 2008 04:37AM GMTJuly 15, 2008 04:37:26

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Answered It was the pilot's fault. He is using a lame excuse.
Focus on landing, then worry about the bee sting.
raves +1 [-] by mr niceguy posted Jul 15, 2008 12:46AM GMTJuly 15, 2008 00:46:40

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Answered It was the pilot's fault. He is using a lame excuse.
He can blame the bee and then sue the marsh owner for having bees. Isnt that the way the court system works these days?
raves [-] by Citizen Phil posted Jul 14, 2008 09:19PM GMTJuly 14, 2008 21:19:48

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Answered It was really the bee's fault.
There is little time to react when cropdusting. A bee would be a major unexpected distraction.
raves [-] by Brenda posted Jul 14, 2008 08:50PM GMTJuly 14, 2008 20:50:29

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Answered It was the pilot's fault. He is using a lame excuse.
May the bee was trying to tell him something
raves +1 [-] by Greatbear100 posted Jul 14, 2008 08:15PM GMTJuly 14, 2008 20:15:37

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Answered It was really the bee's fault.
A bee sting or threat there of can be distracting.
raves [-] by Foo Master LOVES MattGunns! posted Jul 14, 2008 06:50PM GMTJuly 14, 2008 18:50:24

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Answered It was really the bee's fault.
raves +1 [-] by Sandworm posted Jul 14, 2008 06:01PM GMTJuly 14, 2008 18:01:05

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Answered It was the pilot's fault. He is using a lame excuse.
who knew you could apply an excuse from Tommy Boy to your pilot's license?
raves [-] by iguanamind posted Jul 14, 2008 05:44PM GMTJuly 14, 2008 17:44:27

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Answered It was really the bee's fault.
Bees suck.
raves [-] by Darth Crimson Justice posted Jul 14, 2008 05:42PM GMTJuly 14, 2008 17:42:07

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Answered It was the pilot's fault. He is using a lame excuse.

Those cute little Buzzy things wouldn't do that.
raves [-] by GraceDaGoodGirl posted Jul 14, 2008 05:32PM GMTJuly 14, 2008 17:32:24 (edited)

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Answered It was the pilot's fault. He is using a lame excuse.
bull crap