Hunter R. Bennett dies in fatal Flagstaff helicopter crash
Fatal Flagstaff helicopter crash death of Hunter R. Bennett – Obituary
Hunter R. Bennett, 28, a trooper paramedic, and Robert B. Skankey, 61, an aviation supervisor, were killed in a helicopter crash in Flagstaff on February 4 while responding to an active shooter situation. The National Transportation Safety Board has released its initial findings on the incident involving the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s Ranger 56.
According to the report, Ranger 56 departed Kingman shortly after 9 p.m. and arrived in Flagstaff about an hour later. The helicopter maintained communication with law enforcement on the ground, receiving updates on the shooter’s location. Around 10:05 p.m., the aircraft descended to operate between 300 and 500 feet, performing a full circle over the neighborhood where the shooter was reported.
Later, the helicopter ascended north of the area and turned 180 degrees to yield to a medical helicopter heading to Flagstaff Medical Center, passing nearby at roughly 10:12 p.m. The crew continued to communicate normally with ground personnel. At 10:16 p.m., the helicopter entered a rapid rightward rotation, followed by an unidentified radio sound and two loud bangs. The crew radioed “we’re going down” as the helicopter descended.
The main wreckage, including the cockpit, cabin, and aft fuselage, was located on a flat dirt access road, with extensive fire damage observed. Sections of the tail assembly came to rest separately, while the main rotor hub and blades were found 165 feet south of the crash site, coated lightly with orange/yellow oil. Examination of maintenance records revealed no recent repairs or reported issues with the tail boom or rotor assemblies.
Investigators confirmed that no bullets struck the helicopter, and it never approached closer than 7,500 feet to the shooter while shots were fired. The suspect, later identified as 50-year-old Terrell Storey, was apprehended after the crash. Storey had engaged Flagstaff police for several hours, moving between rooftops to evade capture. He now faces 60 felony charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, and is held on a $5-million cash-only bond.
