Sheriff: 2 pilots have minor injuries as plane clips helicopter over Northern California The USA Times

US soldier seeks dismissal of 10 counts in WikiLeaks case, says they're unconstitutional . Generation gap: Parents and their kids feud all the way to the ballot box in Egypt vote . AL Capsules: Pujols belts 450th home run, leads Angels to 3-0 win over Mariners . Rogge says IOC still working to get Saudi Arabia to send women athletes to London Olympics . Adoring crowds await Thai king as he makes takes 1st trip outside Bangkok in almost 3 years . Adoring crowds await Thai king as he makes takes 1st trip outside Bangkok in almost 3 years . New French President Francois Hollande in surprise Afghanistan visit, discussing early pullout . Janet Jackson shows off her new curves at a charity gala in France . Janet Jackson shows off her new curves at a charity gala in France . Royal Caribbean sending 2 cruise liners to China, says they will be Asia's largest .

Friday, May 25, 2012

Sheriff: 2 pilots have minor injuries as plane clips helicopter over Northern California

RIO VISTA, Calif. - A small plane and a helicopter have clipped each other over Northern California, leaving two pilots with minor injuries, authorities said.

The six-seat Beechcraft Bonanza crashed Sunday just short of an airport, while the two-seat Robinson R22 helicopter landed in a field just off state Highway 160.

The accident happened about 7 p.m. about 8 miles (13 kilometres) south of the small Rio Vista Municipal Airport, halfway between Oakland and Sacramento along the Sacramento River, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said.

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

It was not clear if anyone else was aboard either aircraft.

The plane went down near the airport it was trying to reach in Byron, some 20 miles (32 kilometres) to the south.

Both aircraft had private owners, according to FAA records.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.

There was no immediate word on what may have caused the crash.