Story perspectives

FAA and NTSB Investigate Fatal Precision Helicopters Crash in Yosemite

By Drooid · Sep 22, 2026, 4:44 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Super Puma crashes

A Super Puma helicopter crashed while dropping water on the Dome Fire, killing two pilots.
Greg King and Ryan Cutter of Precision Helicopters were identified as the victims.
The crash occurred near Ostrander Lake, about nine miles south of El Capitan.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.

Summary

Yosemite Aviation Fatalities

Yosemite’s aviation history includes multiple fatal crashes, linking the recent helicopter loss to a long pattern.
A B-24 bomber struck Koip Peak in 1943, killing all seven crew members.
Two Douglas P-70 aircraft crashed in Yosemite in 1944 during World II training missions.
A Lockheed plane went down near Lower Merced Pass Lake in 1977, adding to the park’s crash tally.

History

Historical Context

Mountain-flight hazards in Yosemite date to at least the 1938 TWA Flight 8 crash that killed nine people, prompting early safety reviews by the U.S. Forest Service. A century later, the 2024 Super Puma crash near Ostrander Lake has revived those concerns, drawing the FAA, Precision Helicopters and Congress into renewed calls for stricter navigation rules.

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Super Puma crashes

A Super Puma helicopter crashed while dropping water on the Dome Fire, killing two pilots.
Greg King and Ryan Cutter of Precision Helicopters were identified as the victims.
The crash occurred near Ostrander Lake, about nine miles south of El Capitan.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.

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