A 56-year-old pilot, Nicholas Dale of Sooke, British Columbia, was killed on Sunday, July 12, when his helicopter crashed into the Silver Jack Reservoir in southwestern Gunnison County. Dale was a federally contracted aviation pilot working to suppress the Gold Mountain Fire, which has been burning near Ouray since late June. The Gunnison Regional Communications Center received reports of the crash at 5:17 p.m. on Sunday, prompting an immediate response from local authorities. A dive team from the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office recovered Dale’s body from the reservoir later that evening.
The aircraft involved was identified by the National Transportation Safety Board as a Kaman K-1200, commonly known as a K-MAX, which is frequently used for aerial firefighting and heavy-lift operations. According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the helicopter was manufactured in 2019, last certified in 2023, and registered to the Georgia-based company Helicopter Express. The firm issued a statement confirming the loss, praising Dale’s professionalism and commitment to the firefighting community.
Flight tracking data indicates that the helicopter had been active in the area of the Gold Mountain Fire since July 6. On the day of the incident, the aircraft had been in the air for nearly an hour before the crash occurred. Witnesses reported that another pilot attempted to reach the wreckage after landing his own helicopter but was unable to approach due to electrical currents in the water. As of Monday, the wreckage remained submerged in the reservoir while investigators began their inquiry into the cause of the accident.
The Gold Mountain Fire, which has grown to over 36,000 acres, is one of several major blazes currently affecting Colorado. The incident occurred shortly after a strategic firing operation was initiated near Silver Jack Reservoir to establish a containment line. More than 980 personnel are currently assigned to the fire, which remains under investigation alongside the crash itself.
Governor Jared Polis expressed his condolences to Dale’s family and colleagues, noting the significant risks faced by those protecting Colorado communities. The pilot’s death marks the fourth firefighter fatality in the state within a two-week period, following the deaths of three federal firefighters during the Snyder fire. In honor of Dale’s service, state flags are scheduled to be flown at half-staff during his memorial service.
