Hawaii Helicopter Crash Victims ID'd As Croman Corp. Workers

KEKAHA, HI — Authorities have identified four crew members who died when a helicopter crashed near the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands on Kauai.

The helicopter plummeted to the ground shortly after 10 a.m. Tuesday, a spokesman for the facility told Patch. The aircraft, a civilian contracted helicopter, was flying in support of a range training operation when it crashed. It was operated by Oregon-based helicopter company Croman Corp.

The victims were identified as Daniel Maurice, 64, chief pilot, check airman and FAA-designated pilot examiner; Patrick Rader, 55, command pilot and check airman; Erika Tevez-Valdez, 42, mechanic and aircrew; and Matthew Haider, 43, mechanic and aircrew.

Maurice lived in Lyle, Washington, the Star Advertiser reported. Rader, Tevez-Valdez and Haider lived on Kauai.

They all worked for Croman Corp., which provides range support services to the facility.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash and identified the helicopter as a Sikorsky S-61N. The helicopter was built between 1959 and 1980 by Sikorsky Aircraft, now part of Lockheed Martin. It was designed to carry a substantial freight or passenger payload. One version was built to carry up to 30 passengers, according to the Igor I. Sikorsky Historical Archives website.

Video posted on Facebook showed a plume of black smoke rising above the island. Lindsie Fratus-Thomas, who recorded the video, was on a tour boat when she saw a military helicopter crash straight down. Fellow passengers can be heard saying the aircraft "went sideways" before crashing.