Firefighting Pilot Christopher V. Andersen ID’d As Victim In Friday Utah Helicopter Crash

SEVIER COUNTY, UT. (THECOUNT) — Christopher V. Andersen, 64, of Stateline, Nevada, a U.S. Army veteran and veteran aerial firefighting pilot, was killed Friday when the Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane he was piloting crashed while supporting firefighting operations on the Widemouth 2 Fire in central Utah.

The crash occurred at approximately 10 a.m. Aug. 7 in rugged terrain near Three Creeks Reservoir in the Fishlake National Forest, about 160 miles south of Salt Lake City, according to information provided by Andersen’s family.

The heavy-lift helicopter was operating in support of efforts to contain the Widemouth 2 Fire when it went down. The crash sparked a separate fire in the area, preventing rescuers from immediately reaching the aircraft.

Crews entered the crash area Saturday and confirmed that both pilots aboard the helicopter had died.

Andersen was serving as chief pilot for Helicopter Transport Services, which was operating the aircraft under contract with the U.S. Forest Service. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash.

Andersen’s brother, Richard “Ric” Andersen, described his brother’s death in a Facebook tribute as the continuation of a life devoted to aviation and service.

Born Oct. 29, 1961, Andersen grew up in Bettendorf, Iowa, and graduated from Pleasant Valley High School in 1980. He attended the University of Iowa, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1985.

Andersen served five years as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot during the closing years of the Cold War. Stationed in Germany, he flew missions along NATO’s borders and operated several military helicopters, including the UH-1 Huey, AH-1 Cobra and UH-60 Black Hawk.

Following his military service, Andersen built a four-decade civilian aviation career that took him throughout the United States and internationally. His assignments included flying for oil companies in Africa and aerial firefighting operations in Europe, Asia, Australia and the American West.

He also flew missions in Haiti transporting dignitaries, United Nations personnel and senior government officials, according to his brother’s account.

Andersen held an Airline Transport Pilot certificate for rotorcraft-helicopters, the Federal Aviation Administration’s highest level of pilot certification. His type ratings included the Boeing Vertol 107 and 234 and the Sikorsky S-61 and S-64, helicopters used for heavy lifting, construction, resource development and aerial firefighting.

His brother said Andersen also dedicated time to developing younger pilots, sharing his experience and knowledge accumulated throughout his career. He eventually became a chief pilot, a position that reflected his technical expertise and leadership responsibilities.

Andersen lived for many years near Lake Tahoe and was a member of the Stateline and greater Tahoe communities. Outside aviation, he enjoyed skiing and golf and had a strong interest in history, military affairs, world events and geopolitics.

Andersen had been preparing for retirement and was looking forward to the next stage of his life, according to his brother. He never married but was described as being especially proud of his nieces and nephews and delighted by his great-nieces and great-nephew.

He is survived by his parents, Rosalind and Robert Andersen; his brother, Richard “Ric” Andersen, and Ric’s wife, Barbara; his sister-in-law, Mami Andersen; his niece Audrey Dugan and her husband, Robert; his nephew Tyler Andersen; his niece Meredith Holmes and her husband, Austin; and his nephew Liam Andersen.

Andersen was preceded in death by his brother, Mitchell J. Andersen.

In his tribute, Richard Andersen remembered his brother as a pilot who died while performing dangerous work in service to others, flying toward a wildfire to help protect people he did not know.

The circumstances surrounding the Widemouth 2 Fire helicopter crash remain under investigation by the NTSB and FAA. Additional findings are expected as investigators examine the aircraft, flight operations and other factors involved in the accident.

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