DAYTON, WA – At about 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, dispatchers in Columbia County received a crash alert from an iPhone. Following that alert, they received calls from local residents about a crash in the area of S. Touchet Road, outside of Dayton.

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office says deputies immediately responded, along with crews from Fire District 3, to find a helicopter had crashed through power lines and into a field.  The crash caused a power outage to about 800 customers in the area.

Once responders were able to access the scene, they identified the helicopter as a sprayer from North Wind Aviation, with one person on board.  The Yakima pilot was found deceased.  The identity of the pilot was not immediately released.  His body was recovered by rescue crews.

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office requested at drone unit and to canvas and graph the site.

On Thursday, representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board, FAA, Department of Ecology, Bonneville Power, and the owner of North Wind Aviation met with Fire District 3 and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office to review the drone footage of the wreckage and plan an on-site visit, weather permitting.

The NTSB is handling the investigation.  Officials say the recovery at the site will take place as access and weather permit.

Details are still developing as to the cause of the crash.

The NTSB is requesting anyone in the area saw anything, heard anything, has security camera footage or has any details to email witness@NTSB.gov.