Full Breakdown
Fort Hood Apache Helicopter Crash Near Salado Claims Two Lives
8/14/2026, 9:22:57 PM
Incident Overview
- Who: Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey, 34, of Killeen, and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead, 25, of Belton. Both were assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.
- What: An AH-64E Apache attack helicopter crashed during a maintenance test flight, igniting a grass fire.
- When: August 12, around 1:30 p.m. (911 calls logged at 1:34 p.m.; occupants pronounced dead at about 2:30 p.m.).
- Where: Field near the 16400 block of Kuykendall Branch Road, south of Salado, Bell County, Texas.
- How: The aircraft struck the ground violently, caught fire, and caused a wildfire; the cause remains under investigation.
Background & Context
The Apache was part of Fort Hood’s 1st Cavalry Division aviation fleet. Maintenance test flights verify aircraft systems after servicing.
Data & Statistics
- Fire size: Reported between 100 and 155 acres.
- Structures threatened: Five homes and nine outbuildings; all homes saved, eight outbuildings saved, one destroyed.
- Responder count: Over 200 firefighters from 22 agencies and roughly 100 law-enforcement personnel.
Official Statements & Responses
- Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, commanding general of III Armored Corps and Fort Hood, expressed condolences and noted that support resources are being made available.
- Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven, acting commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division, said the priority is securing the crash site and supporting response efforts.
On-the-Ground Reports
Bell County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Cliff Coleman described the crash as “violent,” confirmed the helicopter did not strike any structures, and noted the fire was initially “out of control.” Local fire agencies later reported the blaze was contained.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Fire acreage: Some outlets cited 100 acres, others 155 acres.
- Containment status: One source said the fire was 45 % contained by evening; another indicated 100 % containment the following day.
- Identification timing: Early coverage withheld the soldiers’ names pending family notification; later releases identified Huey and Olmstead.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Our immediate priority is securing the site and supporting the initial response efforts,” — Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven
- “You could tell it was a violent crash,” — Cliff Coleman, sheriff's office spokesperson
What’s Next
A safety investigation led by the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center in Fort Rucker will examine the cause of the mishap. Findings will be released when available.
