LAKE CRESCENT – A helicopter pilot has died in a crash while conducting forestry operations near the western end of Lake Crescent this morning.
Clallam County Sheriff’s Deputies have identified the deceased pilot as 44-year-old Joshua Tripp of Missoula, Montana. Tripp is the owner of Iron Eagle Helicopter, Inc.
PENCOM got the 911 call at 7:40am reporting the crash of a helicopter in the area of West Twin Road after a radio distress call was received from the pilot by a flight crew mechanic. About an hour later a logger located the crash site. No other persons were on board.
The wreckage site is located in steep, forested terrain, with significant amounts of snow on the ground.
Sheriff’s Deputies, Search and Rescue, and Fire District 1 personnel made their way to the site, while attempting to establish access for FAA investigators and extrication of the deceased pilot.
At the time of the crash, Tripp was conducting aerial grapple logging operations on US Forest Service timberland.
Investigators with NTSB are expected to arrive at the Clallam County Operations Center in Port Angeles later this evening.
Photo: Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.