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Coast Guard Searches For Missing Pilot

3 Dead After Helicopter Crash

POSTED: 1:41 am HST September 6, 2008
UPDATED: 1:57 am HST September 6, 2008

The search continues around the clock for the fourth crewmember involved in Thursday's fatal Coast Guard helicopter crash.

The helicopter went down around 8 p.m. during a training flight five miles south of the Honolulu International Airport.

The crew aboard the HH-65 Dolphin was conducting a search-and-rescue drill performed on a routine basis, and is usually staffed by three crewmembers. During the exercise, the helicopter lowers a basket down onto a deck of a vessel, and the crew onboard tries to maneuver the basket into a stable position so that the search and rescue victim can be put into the basket and hoisted safely away.

A preliminary investigation of the crash found that something may have gone wrong involving one of the wires on the basket.

Thursday night's crash involved four, three of whom are dead and one of whom is missing.

Killed in the crash were co-pilot Lt. Commander Andrew Wischmeier, Petty Officer 1st Class David Skimin, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Nichols. The missing pilot's identity has not been released.

The Coast Guard said a team will be in place next week to conduct a rigorous set of investigations -- one will be aimed at safety and the other will be conducted internally.

Crews recovered the Fuscia Lodge on Friday. The wreckage and all other evidence will be turned over for investigation.

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