The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office has released the names of two men who died during in the crash of a helicopter, March 31st. Both men were from Minnesota. The pilot was identified as 30 year old, Ryan Doolittle of Minneapolis, Minnesota, originally from California, and the passenger was identified as 23 year old, Benjamin Peterson of Marshall, Minnesota, originally from Des Moines. Peterson was employed by Western EcoSystem Tech and they were performing an aerial wildlife survey of raptor nests in the area when the accident occurred.

Authorities were notified about the crash at approximately 4:27-p.m. March 31st. The accident happened in the area of 240th and Robin, and involved a 2004 R44 Raven II, 4-passenger helicopter, registered to MN Helicopters, Inc of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and leased by Ride the Sky Helicopters, Inc. also of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Witnesses said the copter hit some powerlines before falling to the ground and bursting into flames.

The investigation is ongoing with the FAA and NTSB.