SPOKANE VALLEY -- A helicopter pilot is dead after crashing into the backyard of a Spokane Valley home near Felts Field.
The crash happened at the 3700 block of North Center, east of Felts Field airport, just after 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Investigators say the helicopter was coming from the south trying to land. The Robinson R-22 two-set helicopter is owned by Inland Helicopter.
Witnesses in the neighborhood told KREM 2 News they saw pieces of the helicopter breaking apart as it was flying overhead. One man explained how he saw the helicopter do a full revolution in the air before hitting the ground. He estimated the victim to be a man between 25 and 35 years old. Investigators believe the helicopter's pilot was a student on a solo flight. His identity will be released by the Spokane Medical Examiner's Office.
No one on the ground was hurt and no structures were damaged. Both the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board were notified of the crash. The FAA arrived on scene shortly before 5:00 p.m. to being an investigation into what happened.
Debris from the crash was spread over an area of several blocks. Although investigators believe they had located most of it, they cautioned nearby neighbors to report found wreckage to Crime Check rather than handling it.
North Center Road from East Glass Avenue to East Kieman Avenue will be closed through the night.
Anyone with information about the crash who was not interviewed Wednesday night is encouraged to call Crime Check at 456-2233.
