Traffic reporting from a helicopter can be a dangerous occupation.

In 1986, traffic reporter Nancy McCormick and pilot Daniel Gould died in a crash on a foggy morning at a wooded area near Lunken airport.

The National Transportation Safety Board gave three reasons for the crash: pilot error in attempting to fly in the fog; an "improper decision" to fly by the helicopter management/owner; and "undue pressure" by others to fly.

At the time, competing radio stations would take a foe to task in station promotions because of not flying in inclement weather.

In the wake of that accident, stations agreed not to compete with advertising that points out who's flying and who's not.

Metro Networks, a division of Westwood One, a New York City-based media company, flies the WLWT-TV 5 Jet Ranger helicopter and also sends up a traffic airplane for Infinity stations WUBE-FM (105.1) and WGRR-FM (103.5).

Helicopter pilot-reporter John Phillips delivers daily traffic feeds for six of Clear Channel's stable of Cincinnati stations and for WKRC-TV Channel 12.

"Things changed in a couple of ways since Nancy McCormick died," Phillips said, noting that stations no long slam competitors for not flying during dubious conditions.

"And there aren't as many reporters," said Phillips, who has been broadcasting traffic reports since 1975 and a pilot since 1988. "We tend to compete with ourselves. WLW-700 doesn't compete with 'UBE (WUBE-FM-105), a music station, as much with 55KRC (WKRC-AM-550), which is news."