Medevac crash kills 4

Copter fleet is grounded while cause of Prince George's accident is investigated

"She loved helping people," said Cheri Douglas, Mallard's aunt. "Tonya had a beautiful personality, a beautiful heart. I lost someone I truly, truly love."

Gov. Martin O'Malley and Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown issued a statement yesterday asking for prayers for the victims: "Their sacrifice is a tragic and sobering reminder that even when most of us are asleep, our first responders are still protecting us, regardless of conditions, risking their lives to help others."

The downed helicopter, a Eurocopter Dauphin II with twin jet engines, was purchased by the state in May 1989 and had logged 8,550 flight hours as of October 2007, according to the legislative audit report, making it the third-most-used aircraft in the fleet.

The state's medevac helicopters, based in locations scattered throughout Maryland, typically fly about 5,000 missions a year, said Col. Terrence B. Sheridan, superintendent of state police. Until yesterday, the fleet had logged about 90,000 flight hours over the past 20 years without a fatality or other major accident.

Baltimore Sun reporters Gadi Dechter and Ellie Baublitz contributed to this article.