Honorees

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Year Honored
1995
Honoree
Anthony Barbee
Agency
Aircare, North Carolina Baptist Hospitals
Agency City
Winston-Salem
Agency State
NC
Last Call
4/22/94
Cause of Death
Medical Aviation Accident
Biography
Tony, at the age of 45, was the lead pilot of the AirCare flight to Bluefield, West Virginia to pick up a patient for transport to North Carolina Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The weather was rainy and extremely foggy on April 22, 1994, and the crew was flying by instruments. Just seven miles from the Mercer County<br /> <br /> Airport the helicopter crashed into East River Mountain. There had been no indication the crew was having difficulties. Tony and his fellow crew members were killed.<br /> <br /> He had many years of experience flying helicopters as a Marine in Vietnam. Tony made the transition to emergency medical services flying and joined AirCare in 1989. Since he had children of his own--Jenny and Andy--pediatric patients tugged at his heart strings the most.<br /> <br /> Whether he was teaching helicopter safety to fire and rescue personnel or participating in NASCAR activities, Tony epitomized the "fly boy" image.<br /> <br /> Honored 1995