'Terrible Tragedy': 3 Identified In Fatal PG&E Helicopter Crash

SOLANO COUNTY, CA — A pilot and two electrical workers who died in a fiery helicopter crash Tuesday while performing contracted work for PG&E in rural Solano County were identified by the Solano County Sheriff-Coroner's Office as Roscoe Gray, 38, of Sonora, California; Jimmy Wasdin, 41, of Odessa, Texas; and Travis Shull, 29, of Chico, California.

Shortly before 1:30 p.m., the PG&E-contracted Bell 206 helicopter collided mid-air with a 115-kilovolt, high-tension power line near the intersection of Lyon Road and Soda Springs Road in an area north of Fairfield and south of Vacaville, according to PG&E, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.

"The lines were severed and it started a small fire," NTSB Spokesman Peter Knudson said. "It hit the top of a hill and rolled down into a ravine."

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers released a statement about the deaths of Wasdin, a journeyman lineman with IBEW Local 676; and Shull, a fourth step journeyman lineman with IBEW Local 1245.

The helicopter pilot, Gray, was not a union member but had many friends and family at PG&E and at IBEW Local 1245 in Vacaville, according to Tom Dalzell, IBEW 1245 business manager.

"We are absolutely devastated by the news we received late yesterday regarding this on-the-job accident," Dalzell said. "Our hearts go out to the families of these two IBEW brothers whose lives were cut short by this terrible tragedy.

"Linework comes with many very serious risks, and the founders of the IBEW understood that above all, our union must stand up for the safety of all electrical and utility workers. As we collectively mourn for Brother Wasdin and Brother Shull, we must simultaneously renew our commitment to safety on the job, today and every day."

ORIGINAL STORY: 3 Die As PG&E-Contracted Helicopter Hits Power Line, Sparks Fire

What exactly led to the fatal incident is expected to take weeks and even months to fully determine, according to Knudson with the NTSB.

According to the aircraft's FAA tail number, N65PJ, the Bell 206L-3 helicopter was a rotorcraft turbo shaft manufactured in 1985 and registered to P J Helicopters Inc. of Red Bluff in Tehama County, California.

A preliminary report that lays out basic facts and circumstances surrounding the crash should be published by the NTSB within two weeks but the complete investigation will take 12-24 months, Knudson told Patch on Friday.

Cal Fire responded to the vegetation fire caused by the crash, and stopped the blaze at 7 acres.

One of the Cal Fire engine crews was involved in a rollover crash while responding to the blaze; three firefighters suffered minor injuries and were taken to a local hospital, Cal Fire Spokesman Will Powers said Tuesday.

The fatal helicopter crash also resulted in a widespread power outage when PG&E, at the request of Cal Fire, deenergized service to 38,000 customers as a safety precaution.

PG&E, which regularly uses contracted helicopters for inspections of both power and gas lines, will provide full support as needed in the investigation, PG&E Spokeswoman Tamar Sarkissian said.