Officials: Helicopter crash in Calif. forest kills 3 state biologists; pilot also thought dead

Chopper crashes in Calif. forest; 3 biologists die

FRESNO, Calif. — Three California Department of Fish and Game biologists were killed Tuesday when their helicopter crashed in a remote area of Sierra National Forest. Officials fear the pilot died as well.

The crash occurred in a narrow canyon near Redinger Lake after the Bell 206 helicopter struck a power line and sparked a blaze that burned the craft and about an acre of brush, a Southern California Edison spokesman and fire officials said.

Killed in the crash were two longtime state scientists, Clu Cotter and Kevin O’Connor, and a scientists’ aide, Tom Stolberg. No further information was immediately released.

They were conducting routine deer surveys in the steep, wooded region near the border of Fresno and Madera counties.

“This is just such a tragedy,” said John Baker, the agency’s Central District assistant chief.

The fire made the site inaccessible for several hours, but crews put out the blaze by mid-afternoon and were dousing the wreckage to aid the search for the pilot, Madera County sheriff’s spokeswoman Erica Stuart said.

Harry Morse, a Fish and Game spokesman, said the agency contracted the helicopter from Landells Aviation of Desert Hot Springs.

A woman who answered the phone at Landells confirmed one of its helicopters was involved in the crash but could not provide other details and would not give her name.

Members of the California Association of Professional Scientists offered condolences and said deer surveys were risky work that often involve flying close to the ground in rugged terrain.

“We knew them, and it hits home,” said association Staff Director Christopher Voight.

The Department of Fish and Game temporarily grounded all helicopter surveys and captures. The National Transportation Safety Board was expected to take over the investigation of the crash.

Associated Press Writer Terence Chea in San Francisco contributed to this report.