Helicopter, Plane Collide In Midair Near Rio Vista

RIO VISTA (CBS13) - A small plane and a helicopter clipped each other in midair Sunday night near Rio Vista Municipal Airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration received a report that a six-seat Beechcraft Bonanza made contact with a two-seat Robinson R22 helicopter at about 7 p.m.

The Beechcraft stayed in the air and landed hard but safely in a field just short of Byron Airport in Contra Costa County, according to Contra Costa fire officials.

The helicopter went down in a field off Highway 160 in the Delta about eight miles south of Rio Vista airport in Sacramento County, according to FAA spokesman Ian Gregor. It was totaled but the pilot walked away.

"We initially went down to the helicopter and the female pilot had gotten herself out," Rio Vista Fire Captain Brandon Wilson said. "The pilot is very lucky to be able to walk away pretty much uninjured from this whole thing."

Both pilots were taken to hospitals with minor injuries, Sacramento County sheriff's Deputy Jason Ramos said.

The plane is registered to Ronald Gawer of Brentwood in Contra Costa County. The helicopter is registered to Matthew Spitzer of Hayward.

Sacramento County Sheriff's Department units were sent to assist with the helicopter crash.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will conduct an investigation.