AUDUBON, Iowa (KELO.com) — Authorities release the names of two men killed in a helicopter crash in western Iowa late last month.
The Audubon County Sheriff says the pilot, Ryan Doolittle, 30, from Minneapolis, and Benjamin Peters, 23, from Marshall, Minnesota were killed in the crash March 31st.
The two were performing an aerial wildlife survey of raptor nests at the time.
The helicopter was owned by a Sioux Falls company.
The FAA and NTSB are investigating the crash.
Below is the news release from the Audubon County Sheriff’s Office.
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On Tuesday March 31st at approximately 4:27pm, the Audubon County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a helicopter crash in the area of 240th and Robin by the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office.
The helicopter has been identified as a 2004 R44 Raven II, 4 passenger helicopter, registered to MN Helicopters, Inc of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and leased by Ride the Sky Helicopters, Inc. also of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Two individuals perished in the crash. The pilot was identified as 30 year old, Ryan Doolittle of Minneapolis, Minnesota, originally from California and the passenger was identified as 23 year old, Benjamin Peterson of Marshall, Minnesota, originally from Des Moines. Peterson was employed by Western EcoSystem Tech and they were performing an aerial wildlife survey of raptor nests in the area when the accident occurred.
The investigation is ongoing with the FAA and NTSB.
The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the FAA, Iowa State Patrol Technical Investigation, Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, Guthrie County EMA, Audubon County EMA, Audubon Fire & Rescue, Exira Fire Department and Audubon County Secondary Roads.
