Helicopter Crash Kills; Three Bodies Identified After Discovery Channel Reality Show Accident
The bodies of three people who died in a helicopter crash in Southern California on Sunday were identified.
The fatal crash of a Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopter occurred in the early morning hours Sunday at the Polsa Rosa Movie Ranch in Acton during the filming for an Untitled Military Project for the Discovery Channel.
The Los Angeles County coroner's office identified the deceased as David Gibbs, 59, of Valencia, who was the pilot; Michael Donatelli, 45, of Pennsylvania; and Darren Rydstrom, 46, of Whittier. The three people killed were the only ones aboard the helicopter at the time of the crash, according to KTLA.
The National Transportation Safety Board is the head of the investigation which continues to search for the exact cause of the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration is also a part of the investigative effort.
The show's production company Eyeworks USA, which is best known for creating "The Biggest Loser". also issued a statement on its site that offered condolences: "We share in our affiliates sympathies for the families and others who are now dealing with this tragedy and send them our warmest regards."
The latest helicopter crash was the worst filming accident in California since the 1982 deaths of Vic Morrow and two child actors on the set of "Twilight Zone: The Movie." That accident occurred due to the helicopters low flight path which was caught by pyrotechnics, according to The Los Angeles Times. Since then film production crews have had increased safety standards and guidelines to follow to prevent similar accidents from happening again.
The 730-acre ranch is around 30 miles north of Los Angeles and a popular set for filming. Some of the films shot there include "Adaptation," "Windtalkers," and "Red Dawn."
Most recently the ranch was used for filming the upcoming Disney feature "The Lone Ranger."
