UPDATE: Crop-spraying helicopter pilot killed in Eastern WA crash into transmission lines

A crop spraying pilot from Yakima died Wednesday afternoon when his helicopter crashed into power lines and fell into a field near Dayton.

Federal and state officials met with Columbia County Sheriff’s officials and fire District 3 crews on Thursday to review drone footage and go to the crash site near South Touchet Road, the sheriff’s office said in a release.

The pilot, whose name was not released, was working for North Wind Aviation in a Bell 206B helicopter designed for agricultural spraying when he crashed about 12:30 p.m. His body was recovered by rescue crews.

The crash also knocked out power to an estimated 800 Columbia REA customers, including forcing the Columbia County Courthouse to close.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the crash, and was joined by officials with the FAA, the state Department of Ecology, Bonneville Power Administration and North Wind’s owner at Thursday’s meeting.

The helicopter wreckage will be recovered when access and weather permits, said officials.

“We ask that the public refrain from the area due to agencies working on the power lines and recovery of the wreckage over the next few days,” the sheriff’s office said in the release.

Federal investigators are asking anyone who may have seen or heard the crash or who have video of it to email witness@ntsb.gov.

This story was originally published March 19, 2025 at 5:14 PM.