United States Fire Administration
6 October 2026
Pilot Greg King, along with Pilot Ryan Cutter, was conducting bucket drops over the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park when the helicopter he was piloting crashed. Both pilots, who were the only people aboard the helicopter, were killed. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Age: 56
Rank: Pilot
Classification: Wildland Contract
Incident date: Sep. 20, 2026 1:58 PM
Date of death: Sep. 20, 2026
Cause of fatal injury: Vehicle Collision – Includes Aircraft
Nature of fatal injury: Trauma
Activity type: Advance Hose Lines/Fire Attack (includes Wildland)
Emergency duty: Yes
Duty type: On-Scene Fire
Fixed property use: Outdoor Property
Pilot Ryan Cutter, along with Pilot Greg King, was conducting bucket drops over the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park when the helicopter he was piloting crashed. Both pilots, who were the only people aboard the helicopter, were killed. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Age: 46
Rank: Pilot
Classification: Wildland Contract
Incident date: Sep. 20, 2026 2:58 PM
Date of death: Sep. 20, 2026
Cause of fatal injury: Vehicle Collision – Includes Aircraft
Nature of fatal injury: Trauma
Activity type: Advance Hose Lines/Fire Attack (includes Wildland)
Emergency duty: Yes
Duty type: On-Scene Fire
Fixed property use: Outdoor Property
The number of on-duty deaths for 2026 is currently 66.
Go here to read the number of interior line of duty deaths for 2026.
Fatality status is provisional and may change as USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify fatality incident information.
For more information about on-duty deaths as recorded by the United States Fire Administration go to “Firefighter Fatalities in the United States.”
Photo courtesy InciWeb.
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