Victims Identified in Movie Ranch Chopper Crash

Three people were killed in the pre-dawn crash on Sunday at a movie ranch north of Los Angeles

Three people killed in a late night helicopter crash at a movie and TV production ranch north of Los Angeles were identified Monday by LA County coroner's investigators.

The dead included the pilot, David Gibbs, 59, of Valencia; Michael Donatelli, 45, of Pennsylvania; and Darren Rydstrom, 46, of Whittier, Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said.

The three were killed when the helicopter flown by Gibbs crashed at the Polsa Rosa Movie Ranch in Acton on Sunday morning at 3:40 a.m. It is not yet known why the three were flying in the middle of the night.

The ranch where the Bell 206 JetRanger crashed is on the northern edge of the Angeles National Forest, about 30 miles north of L.A.

Contact Us