The Warwick Valley Dispatch extends its thoughts and prayers to the families of the three soldiers who died in a helicopter crash on Wed., Jan. 20. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Prial, 30, whose family is from Warwick, was on board a New York Army National Guard UH-60 medical evacuation helicopter based at the Army Aviation Support Facility at Rochester International Airport when it crashed in the Town of Mendon, NY.
Prial and two other pilots – Chief Warrant Officer 5 Steven Skoda and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Christian Koch – were killed in the crash. The aircraft and crew were assigned to C Company of the 1st Battalion, 171st General Support Aviation Battalion. The unit trains to perform aeromedical evacuation and the crew had been conducting night vision goggle proficiency training in the local training area.
Prial, a 2008 graduate of Warwick Valley High School, had served in the Army since 2012 after earning a commission at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He served as a medical evacuation platoon leader with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2014 and 2015 with the 82nd Airborne Division and served as an instructor pilot for students at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where the Army trains helicopter pilots.
Prial attained the rank of captain before accepting an appointment as a warrant officer in the New York Army National Guard so he could continue to fly. He was working as a federal technician at the Army Aviation Support Facility at the Rochester International Airport. He was rated to fly the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and had 670 flying hours.
His awards include the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the NATO Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal and the Army Aviator Badge.
Prial was described by fellow soldiers as extremely humble and family-centric. He had an ability to fit in quickly and make an immediate impact on new groups, according to soldiers in his unit.
The New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs Public Affairs office released the following statement: “These Soldiers were a part of our National Guard family and we mourn their loss, alongside their family members and loved ones. Our service members wish to extend their heartfelt thanks to the members of law enforcement, first responders, and the community at large for their support and sympathy during this trying time.”
An Army Safety Investigation team from the Army Safety Center at Fort Rucker, AL will begin its analysis of the accident. The team will gather all relevant data and evidence to use during its investigation from before, during, and after the accident.
