Pilot Safe After Helicopter Crash in Tri-Cities

A helicopter crashed as it was taking off from a rural property in southeast Washington, but the pilot walked away with only a few bumps and bruises.

KVEW-TV reports that 61-year-old Tom Archer was alone in the aircraft Friday afternoon. His wife, Carol Archer, says he hadn't flown the Bell UH-1H "Huey" in about a month.

The crash happened about 15 miles northeast of Prescott.

The couple own Archer Aviation and specialize in agricultural spraying, cherry drying and firefighting operations.

The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate.