NTSB Report Blames Miscommunication, Unsafe Maneuver for Deadly 2023 Cabazon Helicopter Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board has released its final report on the 2023 helicopter crash in Cabazon that claimed the lives of three first responders.

CAL FIRE Assistant Chief Josh Bischof, Fire Captain Tim Rodriguez, and contract pilot Tony Sousa were killed on August 6, 2023, when their helicopter collided midair with a Skycrane while battling a brush fire. The Skycrane sustained only minor damage, and its crew was uninjured.

According to the NTSB, the Skycrane flight crew entered restricted firefighting airspace at an unsafe altitude, forcing the CAL FIRE helicopter into a rapid descent that led to the deadly collision. Investigators also cited poor radio communication in the mountainous terrain as a contributing factor, noting that both crews had difficulty coordinating their movements in the crowded airspace.

In response to the findings, CAL FIRE said it has already made changes to flight safety procedures, including adjustments to communication protocols and operational guidelines, in an effort to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Meanwhile, the families of the three fallen men have filed wrongful death lawsuits in Riverside County Court. The suits allege negligence and seek accountability for what they describe as preventable failures that cost the lives of dedicated public servants.

The crash was the deadliest helicopter accident in California firefighting operations in recent years, and officials hope the lessons learned will help improve safety in future emergency responses.