Lottery winner survives helicopter crash

May 3, 2018, 1:16 pm (20 comments)

After the Big Win

A North Carolina lottery winner is lucky to be alive after his helicopter crashed and caught fire right on his front lawn.

Back in October, Timothy Kniess' wife won the lottery a hundred thousand dollars on a scratch off ticket.

Luck was definitely on their side again today when he was able to escape the crash with just a few scratches.

Neighbors weren't surprised by the crash. They say they watched Kniess attempt to fly his Mosquito XE helicopter for weeks, just waiting for it all to go wrong.

"Is today the day? I came home and the neighborhood was blocked off and today was the day, it went down," said neighbor John Aubery. 

North Carolina State Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies responded to the crash Wednesday morning, finding the helicopter on fire and Kniess watching his helicopter melt away.

"He was able to crawl away from the crash before it was engulfed in flames," said NCSHP Trooper Jeffrey Swagger.

The Federal Aviation Administration says Kniess was attempting to hover when the helicopter's tail rotor got caught on a tree branch and the aircraft flew out of control.

"Man bought a helicopter, he woke up one day and said 'today's the day, I identify as a pilot, bought a helicopter.' Hell I can't tell a man what to do in his own property," Aubery said. 

The FAA says investigators will be looking into the pilot's certification. State Highway Patrol tells FOX 46 Kniess wasn't experienced and we couldn't find any certifications under his name.

"Oh I knew it was going down. you don't see someone bouncing a helicopter around their yard like that, oh man this guy isn't going to make it," said Aubery.

Many just can't believe Kniess' luck.

"The pilot was very fortunate that he didn't receive more injuries than he did," Trooper Swagger said.

"God was watching out for him, that's all I can say," said Aubery.

The National Transportation Safety Board will continue with the investigation and determine if any citations will be issued.

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

Thanks to truesee for the tip.

Fox 46, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

paymentplan-man

God is good.....its a blessing that he was able to make it out alive....on another note this is some weird lottery post news lol.

music*'s avatarmusic*

Quote: Originally posted by paymentplan-man on May 3, 2018

God is good.....its a blessing that he was able to make it out alive....on another note this is some weird lottery post news lol.

 I Agree! If God wanted us to fly we would have wings. Stay out of the bird's territory. 

noise-gate

lt would seem that Timothy’s neighbors were counting on him to fail. This is one nasty neighborhood, if you reading this Timothy, pack up your stuff and head to other parts of the State, where you don’t have to put up with rancid neighbors. To put it bluntly: F* this neighborhood. You can tell that these neighbors did not like the idea of this family being Lottery winners. These neighbors hoping for misfortune on others, probably attend church regularly.

Perfecttiming2's avatarPerfecttiming2

The article says his wife won....but his name is on the mock check?

TheMeatman2005's avatarTheMeatman2005

Quote: Originally posted by Perfecttiming2 on May 3, 2018

The article says his wife won....but his name is on the mock check?

Maybe he believes ....what's mine is mine and what's yours is mine! LOL

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on May 3, 2018

lt would seem that Timothy’s neighbors were counting on him to fail. This is one nasty neighborhood, if you reading this Timothy, pack up your stuff and head to other parts of the State, where you don’t have to put up with rancid neighbors. To put it bluntly: F* this neighborhood. You can tell that these neighbors did not like the idea of this family being Lottery winners. These neighbors hoping for misfortune on others, probably attend church regularly.

Probably sat on their front porches with the old refrigerator, washer and worn out couch watching him,  drinking beer and smoking cigarettes. 

He could be in serious trouble with the feds and his hobby burst into flames.  He needs to win the big one and get the H out of there.  No doubt most, if not all of that 70K or so is long gone.

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by Bleudog101 on May 4, 2018

Probably sat on their front porches with the old refrigerator, washer and worn out couch watching him,  drinking beer and smoking cigarettes. 

He could be in serious trouble with the feds and his hobby burst into flames.  He needs to win the big one and get the H out of there.  No doubt most, if not all of that 70K or so is long gone.

Exactly Bd!

Notice that there is not a decent line from these " friendly" neighbors with " Oh,great couple, nice guy, bought that unit,but we told him on several occasions to be careful,but you know." Instead it is " Is this the day, the day for what?... to kill himself? With neighbors like these, who needs enemies.

Some here may get offended by my " attending church regularly" statement, but it is what it is. Most divorces in the USA: Bible Belt. Most porn watched- according to data: Bible belt States.

Teddi's avatarTeddi

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on May 3, 2018

lt would seem that Timothy’s neighbors were counting on him to fail. This is one nasty neighborhood, if you reading this Timothy, pack up your stuff and head to other parts of the State, where you don’t have to put up with rancid neighbors. To put it bluntly: F* this neighborhood. You can tell that these neighbors did not like the idea of this family being Lottery winners. These neighbors hoping for misfortune on others, probably attend church regularly.

This is one time I'm not blaming the neighbors. He's an extremely inexperienced flyer and he put everyone at risk doing what he did. Not to mention all the noise. It's inconsiderate, it's dangerous and it's obnoxious. 

Remember the Lotto Lout? Built a derby in his back yard. Was racing vehicles and crashing them and blasting music and was basically was being as big a nuisance as he could, for the sole reason that he could...because he had money he felt he could do anything he wanted to and to hell with the neighbors. When they spoke to the press they sounded a lot like this Aubrey guy. 

I wouldn't be so quick to make this be about him having bad neighbors. 

Besides, what would he have left to move with. They won $100,000. Those things cost $30,000+. After taxes, and the Mosquito, I'm guessing the remaining money went to the wife.

music*'s avatarmusic*

Quote: Originally posted by Teddi on May 4, 2018

This is one time I'm not blaming the neighbors. He's an extremely inexperienced flyer and he put everyone at risk doing what he did. Not to mention all the noise. It's inconsiderate, it's dangerous and it's obnoxious. 

Remember the Lotto Lout? Built a derby in his back yard. Was racing vehicles and crashing them and blasting music and was basically was being as big a nuisance as he could, for the sole reason that he could...because he had money he felt he could do anything he wanted to and to hell with the neighbors. When they spoke to the press they sounded a lot like this Aubrey guy. 

I wouldn't be so quick to make this be about him having bad neighbors. 

Besides, what would he have left to move with. They won $100,000. Those things cost $30,000+. After taxes, and the Mosquito, I'm guessing the remaining money went to the wife.

I remember the Lotto Lout. I watch him on YouTube videos. I believe he is quoted as saying, " If only I had never won the lotto I would still have my baby daughter and my wife". 

 He felt so bad after his wife left him he turned to drugs. Unhappy

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by Teddi on May 4, 2018

This is one time I'm not blaming the neighbors. He's an extremely inexperienced flyer and he put everyone at risk doing what he did. Not to mention all the noise. It's inconsiderate, it's dangerous and it's obnoxious. 

Remember the Lotto Lout? Built a derby in his back yard. Was racing vehicles and crashing them and blasting music and was basically was being as big a nuisance as he could, for the sole reason that he could...because he had money he felt he could do anything he wanted to and to hell with the neighbors. When they spoke to the press they sounded a lot like this Aubrey guy. 

I wouldn't be so quick to make this be about him having bad neighbors. 

Besides, what would he have left to move with. They won $100,000. Those things cost $30,000+. After taxes, and the Mosquito, I'm guessing the remaining money went to the wife.

Teddi, you know l love you girl, but l disagree with you. This heli has a total weight of under 300lbs- empty. Falling on someone’s roof is tantamount to having a sumo wrestler cutting off branches that are overhanging on the property, and losing his footing & crashing through the ceiling. The rafters could have caught this guy.. anyway, l digress. 

Its the neighbors that l am talking about. Mealy mouth folks who don’t have a positive word to say about Timothy. That’s my story & l am sticking to it. Btw where the h** have you been child?*

Artist77's avatarArtist77

Quote: Originally posted by paymentplan-man on May 3, 2018

God is good.....its a blessing that he was able to make it out alive....on another note this is some weird lottery post news lol.

Amen.

Artist77's avatarArtist77

Quote: Originally posted by Teddi on May 4, 2018

This is one time I'm not blaming the neighbors. He's an extremely inexperienced flyer and he put everyone at risk doing what he did. Not to mention all the noise. It's inconsiderate, it's dangerous and it's obnoxious. 

Remember the Lotto Lout? Built a derby in his back yard. Was racing vehicles and crashing them and blasting music and was basically was being as big a nuisance as he could, for the sole reason that he could...because he had money he felt he could do anything he wanted to and to hell with the neighbors. When they spoke to the press they sounded a lot like this Aubrey guy. 

I wouldn't be so quick to make this be about him having bad neighbors. 

Besides, what would he have left to move with. They won $100,000. Those things cost $30,000+. After taxes, and the Mosquito, I'm guessing the remaining money went to the wife.

I agree with you. He was an accident waiting to happen and we have all seen reckless people lIke this person. He could have landed on a person or child. No neighborhood likes people who disrupt their neighborhood...at least if you live in a nice one. Religion has nothing to do with this incident. And Christians are perfect in Christ, however all humans remain flawed beings.

KY Floyd's avatarKY Floyd

"lt would seem that Timothy’s neighbors were counting on him to fail. "

His neighbors are just smarter than he is, and therefore able to recognize the obvious. Here's the front yard where he was trying to fly his helicopter: https://goo.gl/maps/ZMHZfUjyd5M2

And another view: https://goo.gl/maps/MjopqyYuBnB2

Artist77's avatarArtist77

Quote: Originally posted by KY Floyd on May 5, 2018

"lt would seem that Timothy’s neighbors were counting on him to fail. "

His neighbors are just smarter than he is, and therefore able to recognize the obvious. Here's the front yard where he was trying to fly his helicopter: https://goo.gl/maps/ZMHZfUjyd5M2

And another view: https://goo.gl/maps/MjopqyYuBnB2

Exactly!

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