CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – A firefighting helicopter crashed in Yosemite National Park on Sunday, killing two pilots during operations against the Dome Fire. The Eurocopter AS32 went down at about 2:55 p.m. local time on Sept. 20 in Mariposa County. The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft crashed during firefighting operations. Both people aboard died. The accident occurred as ground crews and aircraft worked across steep terrain inside the California national park.
Precision Helicopters identified the pilots as Greg King and Ryan Cutter. King had extensive experience supporting wildland firefighting operations, including assignments in Alaska. The Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection said he had worked alongside its crews on numerous fires. Cutter was also identified by the helicopter operator following notification of the pilots’ families. The two men were operating the aircraft as part of the response to the active wildfire in Yosemite.
The helicopter was conducting water bucket work when it crashed near the Ostrander Lake area, according to officials involved in the response. Helicopters had played a major role in supporting crews across the remote fire zone. Their work included water drops, transporting personnel and delivering supplies to areas with difficult ground access. The crash added a fatal aviation accident to an emergency operation that had already mobilized hundreds of firefighters and several aircraft.
Dome Fire reaches 3,420 acres
The Dome Fire had grown to 3,420 acres and remained 15% contained on Sept. 22, according to California’s current incident data. The wildfire began on Sept. 15 north of Wawona Dome in Yosemite National Park. Its cause remains under investigation. Firefighters have worked to contain flames moving through timber and heavy ground fuels. Earlier fire footprints and natural granite features have also formed part of the terrain surrounding suppression operations.
The National Park Service reported 581 personnel assigned to the fire on Sept. 21 as crews strengthened containment lines. Firefighters faced challenging conditions across steep and rugged wilderness. Crews also worked around spot fires and areas containing heavy dead and downed vegetation. Aircraft continued supporting ground operations with water and logistical missions. Fire managers positioned resources around nearby communities while maintaining suppression work across the main fire area and its northern sections.
Federal investigation examines helicopter crash
The National Transportation Safety Board and federal aviation authorities are investigating the helicopter accident. Officials have not announced a cause for the crash. The FAA listed the aircraft as a Eurocopter AS32 and said the accident occurred during firefighting operations near Mariposa. Investigators typically examine the aircraft, operational records and other available evidence before reaching conclusions. Authorities have released no finding linking the crash to weather, mechanical failure or any other specific factor.
Yosemite National Park remained open while fire-related closures affected parts of the southern park. Officials closed the Ostrander Lake Trail and areas south of it, along with trails around Chilnualna Falls and nearby backcountry routes. Authorities had announced no evacuation orders or warnings in the latest park update. The Dome Fire remained active, and crews continued suppression operations while federal investigators examined the fatal helicopter crash that killed King and Cutter.