• Skip to Content

New York National Guard

  • Sign in to your Merit page
« Back to Recent News

National Guard Flight Facility Commemorates Anniversary of 1999 Crash that Claimed Two Lives

Media Advisory

Ronkonkoma, NY (11/25/2019) — Members of the New York Army National Guard aviation community commemorate the loss of two aircrew members in a crash of a National Guard UH-1H Huey helicopter 20 years ago.

WHO: Soldiers, civilian employees of the New York Army National Guard Aviation Support Facility, joined by retirees, friends and family of Chief Warrant Officer William Zimmerman and Staff Sgt. Edward Roberts, two aircrew members who died in a training flight crash

WHAT: Wreath laying and remembrance service hosted by Capt. Charles Ackley, facility commander, commemorating the loss of two Army National Guard aviation crewmembers in 1999

WHERE: NY Army National Guard Aviation Support Facility, 201 Schaefer Drive, Ronkonkoma, NY

WHEN: 1 p.m. this afternoon, Monday, November 25

Media opportunity: Imagery and interviews with current and former members of the flight facility for the commemoration of the fatal training accident in 1999 that took the lives of two Soldiers. For access to this event, media must contact Chief Warrant Officer 5 Pete Haack, cell 631.793.5082

Background

Two New York Army National Guard aviation Soldiers were killed and another two crewmembers injured when an Army Guard helicopter crashed at Long Island MacArthur International Airport November 24, 1999.

The incident occurred during a training flight at Macarthur Airport while attempting to land in deteriorating weather.

Killed were Staff Sgt. Edward Roberts, 40, of Mineola and Chief Warrant Officer William Zimmerman, 56, of Northport, N.Y.


CA
Charles
A.

New York National Guard

Col. Richard Goldenberg, 518-786-4581

Share this Story

  • Print
  • Email

Recent News

  • NY National Guard marks 389th anniversary of the National Guard with cake-cutting ceremony on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025
  • Front Royal resident Edward Tirado retires from the New York Air National Guard after 39 years of service
  • East Patchogue resident Eric Carver retires from the New York Air National Guard after 39 years of service
  • NY Army National Guard Major General Michel Natali honors President Martin Van Buren in Kinderhook ceremony
  • Local NY National Guard volunteers assist with Trees for Troops Loadout on Monday, December 1
  • Queens resident assumes duties as top non-commissioned officer for NY Army Guard artillery battalion
  • Latham-based New York National Guard MPs return from Guantanamo Bay deployment on Saturday, Nov. 22
  • New Paltz resident Ryan Dannemann, commander of Air Guard's 105th Airlift Wing promoted to one-star general
  • Greenfield Center resident MaryEtta Nolan becomes rear admiral, takes charge of New York Naval Militia
  • NY Air Guardsman from Ravena, is among the first to wear Army's newest combat recognition badge
… View all recent news
Copyright © 2025 Merit Pages, Inc. • All Rights Reserved. • Terms of Service • Privacy Policy • Opt Out