One Dead, 2 Injured in Copter Crash

A helicopter connected to a film production crashed Tuesday, killing the pilot, injuring the co-pilot and a crew member on the ground, fire officials said.

The craft went down in the Antelope Valley in a rugged, desolate area dotted with cactuses and buttes five miles east of Lancaster in north Los Angeles County. A county film office official said a music video was scheduled to film in the area but had no other information.

“We have confirmation of one fatality and two minor injuries,” said Inspector Henry Rodriguez.

Another fire official said preliminary reports indicated the helicopter was involved in filming.

Television news reports showed footage of the crumpled craft, resembling a military-style Apache helicopter, next to a lighting truck and mangled parts scattered throughout a filming set.

The president of Paskal Lighting, a Hollywood lighting company hired for the production, said a television commercial was being worked on.

The victims, whose identities weren’t available, were airlifted to Antelope Valley Hospital, Cleveland said.

The co-pilot possibly suffered fractures and the crew member was believed to have had lacerations and a back injury, fire Inspector Greg Cleveland said.

The helicopter was reported down about 4:33 p.m. at 150th Street and Avenue K, near Saddleback Butte State Park.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s officials referred all calls to the Federal Aviation Administration.

But the agency had no other details to offer an hour after the crash.