4 victims of helicopter crash that sparked fire near Easton identified

EASTON, Kittitas County — Emergency crews have recovered today three of four bodies from the wreckage of the helicopter that crashed and started a forest fire in the Cascades south of Easton Thursday.

The four people were killed when a charter helicopter crashed while its passengers were viewing timber property in the area, according to authorities.

The pilot was identified as Keiko Minakata, who had worked for Classic Helicopter for several years, said Kittitas County Undersheriff Clayton Myers.

One of the passengers was identified as Robert Hagerman of Marysville, who owned Everett-based Formark Forest Marketing Enterprises, and was showing the property.

The two potential buyers were identified as Korean nationals Hyun Song and Si Lee, Myers said.

The accident happened when the helicopter was taking off from where it had landed in the forest, Myers said.

It is unclear what caused it to go down.

Minakata lived in Burien and was a flight instructor, ground instructor and commercial pilot. She had worked at Seattle-based Classic Helicopter for several years, said Philip Walling, company vice president.

"She's been here a long time," Walling said. "She's got a great number of hours in as a pilot."

Walling said Minakata's family was flying in from Japan this weekend.

Hagerman's family said today that he was a warm and courageous man, always willing to take on tasks deemed too difficult or dangerous by those around him. But the thrill of helicopter trips had faded over the years.

"He didn't really enjoy it anymore, but it was part of his business," said his son-in-law, Carl Anderson.

Hagerman was among the last of his breed — an independent timber broker who had survived the industry's dramatic swings, his family said.

P.K.Yuh, Consulate General of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) in Seattle, said he was notified about the Korean citizens' deaths today.

"This morning I was notified about the helicopter crash. I have been in close contact with their family members. I'm assisting them to get a U.S. visa," Yuh said. "They [the families] feel very desperate, and I gave my deepest condolences to them."

The land is owned by Barbee Mill Company, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

The forest fire started by the crash, which has spread to at least 400 acres and was still at zero percent containment as of this morning, had prevented investigators from getting to the crash site before Friday afternoon.

The helicopter took off from Boeing Field in Seattle and crashed between 2 and 2:30 p.m. about three miles south of Easton along Cabin Creek Road, said Richelle Risdon, spokeswoman for Kittitas Fire and Rescue.

"Today's priority for the team is to work on getting access to the accident sight," said Department of Natural Resources Fire Information Officer Mark Grassel.

But Myers said the fire should come first.

"The first priority is the fire itself and trying to contain the fire. We're going to try not to rush into this ... the crash site is not going anywhere," said Myers.

Crews Thursday night were unsuccessful in getting lines through the area so firefighters could access the blaze, now being called the Easton Ridge Fire. The terrain is steep and rugged, without easy access by ground.

Located about three miles east of the crest of the Cascade Mountains, the fire spread from land owned by Barbee to acreage owned by Plum Creek Timber Company. It has moved onto Forest Service land as well.

The blaze has grown quickly: At 4 p.m., crews reported its size at 40 acres; by 6 p.m., it was 80 to 100 acres; at 7:30 p.m., it was at 300 acres. It has now torched 400 to 500 acres.

Risdon and others got a look at the fire from the air by using a Drug Enforcement Agency helicopter, but were unable to see the downed aircraft because of heavy smoke. The thick smoke also made it difficult for the crews in three helicopters and four air tankers fighting the fire from above.

Dry timber and winds in the heavily forested area helped the fire to spread quickly, Risdon said.

About 30 percent of the trees, ravaged by bugs, are dead standing wood, which means there is plenty of fuel for the fire.

The only building currently in the fire's path is an unoccupied cabin on an adjacent ridge.

Myers said one person witnessed the crash, and a group of people on the ground heard the crash and made their way toward it but were stopped about a half-mile away by the spreading flames.

The group called 911 on a cellphone.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash but probably won't make it to the site until today or Saturday.

"The fire is so active in there, it's not safe for anybody to go in," Grassel said.

Meteorologist Andy Haner with the National Weather Service in Seattle expects it will be windy in the Easton area, particularly in the afternoon and evening, which could impede the firefighters' efforts.

However, temperatures in Easton the next several days are expected to be cooler than normal, with more moisture in the air than usual.

"They will have that in their favor," Haner said.

Between 300 and 350 firefighters from across the state will be fighting the fire today.

Seattle Times staff reporters Christina Siderius, Jennifer Sullivan, and Diane Brooks and Seattle Times news researcher Miyoko Wolf contributed to this report.