Posted at 2:15 p.m., Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Pilot in Christmas Day chopper crash dies
By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Staff Writer
An autopsy is planned to determine the exact cause of death for pilot Jonathan D'Attilio, 21, Nicole Charnon, air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, said today.
D'Attilio was piloting an Inter-Island Helicopters MD 369 helicopter in an effort to help county firefighters put out a brush fire at Kapaia Valley when the aircraft dropped into De Mello Reservoir about 6 p.m.
D'Attilio was attempting to fill a water bucket slung under the helicopter just before the crash, officials said. The Federal Aviation Administration reports the helicopter was destroyed.
The Kapaia Valley fire burned three to five acres over almost four hours and forced the temporary evacuation of elderly residents at Sun Village condominium.
