CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – Two pilots died after a firefighting helicopter crashed inside Yosemite National Park during operations against the Dome Fire. The Eurocopter AS32 went down in Mariposa County at about 2:55 p.m. on Sept. 20. The aircraft had been supporting crews battling the wildfire in rugged terrain. Federal aviation officials confirmed that both people aboard the helicopter died. The accident occurred near the Ostrander Lake area as aerial resources supported the broader firefighting response.
Precision Helicopters identified the pilots as Greg King and Ryan Cutter. Both men were working on the wildfire mission when the helicopter crashed. King had years of experience flying in support of wildland fire operations. He had also worked with firefighting teams in Alaska on numerous assignments. The Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection recognized his long involvement with its operations after the crash. Precision Helicopters also confirmed Cutter’s identity after notifications to family members.
The helicopter had been carrying out water bucket operations before the accident, according to information released by authorities. Aircraft have supported firefighters across sections of Yosemite where steep terrain limits ground access. Their work has included water drops, moving personnel and transporting supplies. Hundreds of firefighters have also worked on containment lines around the Dome Fire. The crash brought a fatal aviation incident into an already complex wildfire response involving crews, aircraft and backcountry operations.
Dome Fire expands in Yosemite
The Dome Fire reached 3,420 acres and remained 15% contained on Sept. 22, according to current California incident information. The wildfire started Sept. 15 north of Wawona Dome in Yosemite National Park. Officials have not determined its cause. Firefighters have faced timber, heavy ground fuels and difficult terrain while working around the fire perimeter. Natural granite formations and areas burned by earlier fires also form part of the landscape surrounding ongoing suppression work.
The National Park Service reported 581 personnel assigned to the incident on Sept. 21. Crews continued building and strengthening containment lines across remote sections of the park. Firefighters also addressed spot fires and areas with dense fallen vegetation. Aircraft provided water and logistical support to ground teams working across the affected area. The National Park Service kept most of Yosemite open while maintaining closures near the active fire zone and surrounding backcountry routes.
Federal investigators examine fatal crash
The National Transportation Safety Board and federal aviation authorities are investigating the helicopter crash. Officials have not announced a cause. Federal records identify the aircraft as a Eurocopter AS32 involved in firefighting operations near Mariposa. Investigators are expected to examine the wreckage, flight records and other available evidence as part of the formal process. Authorities have not linked the crash to weather, mechanical problems or any other specific factor. No official finding has established what caused the aircraft to go down.
Fire restrictions and closures remained in place across parts of southern Yosemite as crews continued work on the Dome Fire. Officials closed the Ostrander Lake Trail and areas south of it. Trails around Chilnualna Falls and other nearby backcountry routes also remained affected. Authorities had announced no evacuation orders or warnings in the latest park information. Fire crews continued suppression work while investigators examined the deadly helicopter accident that killed King and Cutter during the California wildfire response.