Rescuers near signal from missing NM helicopter

[June 10, 2009]  SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) -- New Mexico authorities say rescue teams are within a half-mile of the snow-covered mountain area where they expect to find a State Police helicopter that went missing near Santa Fe.

Department of Public Safety spokesman Peter Olson said Wednesday the team was on foot hiking through snow and rain in the early morning darkness near the top of 12,000-foot Santa Fe Baldy That area about 15 miles northeast of Santa Fe is where they picked up a weak signal from a State Police helicopter that went missing Tuesday night shortly after it picked up a lost hiker. The pilot reported trouble in his last radio transmission at about 9 p.m. A spotter was also on board. Olson said the team has not yet found any wreckage. [Associated Press] Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.