CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A year ago Wednesday, the local news community in Charlotte mourned the tragic loss of two WBTV team members when their news helicopter crashed near Interstate 77. The two men who died were meteorologist Jason Myers and pilot Chip Tayag.
Myers joined WBTV in 2019. He was born in Salisbury and raised in Union and Catawba counties. He graduated from high school in Davidson County before studying meteorology at North Carolina State University. He came back to Charlotte after previous jobs in Kentucky, Virginia, and Texas.
Myers leaves behind his wife of 20 years, Jillian, and their four children. During a celebration of life last year, Jillian retold the story of how their families met when she was just a toddler.
“When people use the phrase 'the love of their life' they don’t necessarily mean their whole life — but I do," she said. "He continued to work two jobs throughout our marriage so that I never needed to work. Yet, our roles never felt divided at home. He was part of every aspect of caring for our children."
Chip Tayag joined WBTV in 2017 and was a pilot for more than 20 years. He logged more than 2,000 hours in the helicopter during his time at the station.
A witness at the crash site said they believed Tayag saved lives by making a last-second maneuver to avoid crashing into the highway. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings shared the same sentiments on Twitter after the crash, saying Tayag prevented a greater tragedy.
"The pilot is a hero in my eyes," Jennings said. "Witnesses indicated that the pilot made diversionary moves away from the highway to save lives. Because of his heroic acts, there were no further injuries or vehicles on the highway involved in the incident."
Reaction to the tragic crash was swift, with public officials at the local and state levels offering their condolences. During the Christmas tree lighting that year, the Carolina Panthers held a moment of silence to honor Myers and Tayag.
Two weeks after the crash, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released initial findings from the crash investigation. The board said Tayag was training Myers on Nov. 22 in a simulated news scene. Tayag reportedly made three, 360-degree turns to the left before the crash. The NTSB also said Tayag did not send a distress call during the crash.
The crash on Nov. 22, 2022, happened in a grassy area adjacent to I-77 southbound between Tyvola Road and Nations Ford Road. All lanes were blocked for several hours as crews worked to remove the 1999 Robinson R44 chopper from the crash site.
One year later, the NTSB investigation remains ongoing as of Nov. 22, 2023. Such investigations can take anywhere between 12-to-24 months to be finished.
In March 2023, Jillian Myers filed a lawsuit against the Wilson Air Center, TTWN Media Networks, and iHeartMedia. The suit claims Wilson Air Center provided contaminated fuel for the helicopter and didn't test the fuel for contaminants. TTWN Media and its parent company iHeartMedia, the owners of the helicopter, are accused of failing to properly inspect the helicopter.
Mecklenburg County court records showed a jury trial has been granted as requested by Myers' attorneys. That is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Jan. 22, 2024.
WCNC Charlotte continues to offer our heartfelt condolences to both Jason and Chip's families as well as our colleagues at WBTV.