There’s been a major disturbance in the local severe weather force!
Thanks to a tip from the Ogle Mole Network, we’ve learned that Bob Mills Sky News 9 chopper pilot Jim Gardner has "retired" from KWTV News 9.
The retirement comes right in the middle of severe weather season, and just three weeks after he crash-landed the Sky News 9 at Wiley Post Airport on April 30th.
According to an internal News 9 email we obtained via the Ogle Mole Network, Jim was set to step down in "early 2027," but with Jim sitting idle while Sky News 9 is at the body shop, they decided to "move the timeline up."
Well, at least that's how they're spinning it:
Question - How do the receptions at News 9 work? Is it potluck, or does the Sassy Mamma cater it? Enquiring minds want to know.
Although News 9 is claiming this is a voluntary retirement, you do have to think they probably forced it on Jim.
According to one Ogle Mole who watched a video of Jim's crash, it does appear to have been pilot error. The Mole explained:
“He hooked the strut underneath the trailer pad, tried to pull up to ‘re-do,’ and it torqued the chopper right over onto its side. So basically, he misjudged the landing pad.”
The only helicopter I’ve ever flown was at a mall kiosk, so I’m not exactly an aviation expert—but whether the accident was his fault or not, this is the second time Jim’s totaled a chopper in the last two years.
Combine that with the time he got suspended for racing a stunt jet at Wiley Post, and… well, you probably can’t blame News 9 (or their insurance company) for thinking the guy might be a bit of a liability.
Regardless, I guess this marks the end of Jim’s 14-year run at News 9—the station where he chased storms, profiled protestors, and shyly documented the sex toy spill of the century:
Before joining News 9, Jim spent 16 years helming Mike Morgan’s aerial storm-chasin’ squadron.
His switch to the competition in 2011 was a pretty big deal—big enough that Mike quickly countered by scooping up Reed Timmer and the Dominator for a brief ratings grudge match.
Anyway, as we get more info and details about this, we’ll be sure to let you know.
In the meantime, stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
