07/16/2026
Tiffin Fire Department Responds to Helicopter Crash in Union Township
On July 15, 2026, at 1944 hours, the Tiffin Fire Department was paged to an aircraft crash in the area of 2862 Rohret Road, Iowa City. Initial reports indicated a helicopter spraying crops had crashed and was smoking near a farm. Tiffin Fire responded with a command vehicle, engine company, and brush truck. Oxford Fire Department responded as automatic mutual aid with an engine company and brush truck. As per protocol, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Med One, Johnson County Ambulance Service Medical Director, and Johnson County Emergency Management Director Dave Wilson also responded.
Johnson County Emergency Communications Center updated responding units that a Good Samaritan had located the pilot and moved the pilot away from the crash site to safety to await the arrival of fire and EMS personnel.
Upon arriving in the area, Johnson County Ambulance encountered a downed power line crossing Rohret Road, blocking their access to the farm’s driveway. Tiffin Fire arrived at the scene at 1955 hours. A Johnson County paramedic along with Tiffin firefighters and deputies accessed the driveway and made contact with the pilot near the farmhouse while additional responders shut down Rohret Road. It was determined that the only person on the helicopter at the time of the crash was the pilot, who was treated and subsequently transported via ambulance to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. No additional information is available regarding the pilot.
Tiffin Firefighters and Johnson County deputies searched the cornfield for the crash site. Tiffin Firefighters located the helicopter crash site and assessed the wreckage for hazards. The helicopter was identified as a R44 Raven II. A unified command post with Tiffin Fire Department, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Johnson County EMA, and University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics EMS Medical Director was established near the crash site. Firefighters working in coordination with Johnson County EMA mitigated hazardous fluids leaking from the helicopter and other hazards at the crash site. Firefighters also worked with the utility company to mitigate the powerline emergency. Meanwhile, EMA notified the Federal Aviation Administration, which coordinated with responders at the scene. Fire department operations ceased at 2106 hours. No emergency responders were injured.
The Tiffin Fire Department was assisted by Oxford Fire Department, Johnson County Ambulance Service, Johnson County Emergency Management Agency, Johnson County Joint Emergency Communications Center, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Emergency Medicine Medical Director, and the Federal Aviation Administration.
The Tiffin Fire Department would like to thank the Good Samaritans for rendering assistance and aid to the pilot and providing critical information for responders.
Questions regarding the investigation should be directed to the NTSB, Federal Aviation Administration, and Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.
