AVALON, California — New findings from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have revealed that a second medical helicopter touched the ocean twice shortly before a REACH Air Medical Services helicopter crashed off Catalina Island on September 30, 2026, killing three people.

The NTSB’s preliminary report describes the final moments of a Eurocopter EC-135 P2+ that crashed into the Pacific Ocean shortly after departing Pebbly Beach Seaplane Base near Avalon. Five people were aboard the aircraft. The pilot, flight nurse, and patient died, while the flight paramedic sustained serious injuries and another passenger suffered minor injuries. <Link url=”https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GeneratePreliminaryReport/203908/pdf” title=”Read the NTSB preliminary report”/>.

The newly documented incident involving the second helicopter has raised further questions about the circumstances surrounding the fatal flight. However, investigators have not established whether the two events were connected or determined the cause of the REACH helicopter crash.

What Happened in the Catalina Island Helicopter Crash?

The fatal accident occurred at approximately 7:46 p.m. Pacific daylight time on September 30, 2026, as the REACH helicopter departed Pebbly Beach Seaplane Base on a medical transport flight to Torrance, California.

According to the NTSB, the aircraft climbed to approximately 90 feet above mean sea level before entering a rapid descent and striking the water.

Witnesses reported that the helicopter lifted off, began descending, and then crashed into the ocean. The conditions were described as dark and moonless, limiting the available natural visual references.

The aircraft was carrying three crew members and two passengers. The crash prompted an extensive search-and-rescue operation involving the U.S. Coast Guard, Los Angeles County Fire Department, sheriff’s personnel, and other responders.

Three people ultimately died, while the two survivors were taken for medical treatment.

Second Medical Helicopter Touched the Water Twice

One of the most significant findings in the preliminary report concerns a medical helicopter operated by a different organization that departed the same helipad approximately 45 seconds before the REACH aircraft.

Surveillance footage reviewed by NTSB investigators showed the earlier helicopter lifting into a hover, turning, and departing north. Approximately 13 seconds later, it descended and contacted the water twice before climbing again.

The REACH helicopter subsequently took off and began its own departure. Several seconds later, it entered a nose-low attitude and struck the ocean.

The earlier aircraft was identified in subsequent reporting as a Mercy Air helicopter operated by Air Methods. The Federal Aviation Administration is separately examining the circumstances surrounding that event. <Link url=”https://kfiam640.iheart.com/content/2026-10-22-second-medical-helicopter-struck-water-before-fatal-catalina-crash-ntsb-says/” title=”Read the related report”/>.

The two events occurred close together in time and at the same departure location. Nevertheless, the sequence alone does not establish a shared mechanical problem, a common operational error, or a causal relationship between the flights.

What the Flight Data Revealed

The NTSB reviewed aircraft-tracking data to reconstruct the final moments of the REACH helicopter’s flight.

According to the preliminary findings, the aircraft reached a maximum altitude of approximately 90 feet above mean sea level before entering a descent that lasted several seconds.

The final recorded data indicated a groundspeed of approximately 65 knots, equivalent to about 75 miles per hour, and a descent rate of roughly 1,280 feet per minute.

These figures help investigators reconstruct the aircraft’s movement before impact. They do not, on their own, establish why the helicopter descended or whether mechanical, environmental, human, or other factors contributed.

The investigation remains ongoing, and the preliminary findings may be revised as additional evidence is examined.

Three People Killed in the Crash

The accident claimed the lives of three people aboard the REACH medical transport helicopter: the pilot, a flight nurse, and the patient being transported to the mainland for medical care.

The two surviving occupants were the flight paramedic, who suffered serious injuries, and another passenger, who sustained minor injuries, according to the NTSB report.

The loss prompted condolences from the medical transport community and renewed attention to the risks faced by crews providing emergency medical flights.

REACH Air Medical Services issued a statement following the crash expressing concern for those affected and saying its focus was on supporting the families, loved ones, and colleagues impacted by the tragedy.

Wreckage Recovery and Emergency Response

The helicopter crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Pebbly Beach, off Catalina Island. Initial response operations involved marine and aviation resources as rescuers searched for survivors and the missing occupant.

The NTSB report places the wreckage approximately three-tenths of a mile north of the seaplane base. The aircraft was located underwater, and subsequent reporting described recovery from a depth of approximately 209 feet.

The wreckage has been recovered and retained for further examination as part of the investigation.

Recovery and technical examination can help investigators assess the condition of the aircraft and look for evidence relevant to its final flight. No definitive mechanical failure or other specific cause has been established in the preliminary findings.

What Are Investigators Examining?

The NTSB is leading the investigation into the fatal REACH helicopter crash, while the FAA is examining the earlier incident involving the Mercy Air aircraft.

The investigation includes review of surveillance footage, flight-tracking data, witness accounts, aircraft evidence, and relevant operating conditions.

Investigators will need to determine why the REACH helicopter entered a rapid descent shortly after takeoff and whether any factors involving the aircraft, flight operations, or surrounding conditions contributed to the accident.

The earlier helicopter’s water contact is also significant because it occurred during a departure from the same location shortly beforehand. However, the available findings do not establish that the two incidents had the same cause.

No final probable-cause determination has been announced in the information reviewed for this article.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the latest official update on the Catalina helicopter crash?

The NTSB’s preliminary report documents that a second medical helicopter departed approximately 45 seconds before the fatal REACH flight and touched the water twice. The report also describes the REACH aircraft’s brief climb, rapid descent, and impact with the ocean.

How many people died in the crash?

Three people died: the pilot, a flight nurse, and the patient being transported. The flight paramedic sustained serious injuries, and another passenger suffered minor injuries.

Was the second helicopter responsible for the fatal crash?

No such conclusion has been established. The NTSB documented the earlier helicopter’s water contact, but the preliminary findings do not prove that the event caused or contributed to the REACH crash.

Who is investigating the accident?

The NTSB is leading the investigation into the fatal REACH helicopter crash. The FAA is separately examining the earlier incident involving the Mercy Air helicopter operated by Air Methods.

Has the cause of the crash been determined?

No final cause has been established in the preliminary findings. Investigators are continuing to examine the available evidence.

Latest Update on the Catalina Island Helicopter Crash

The NTSB’s preliminary report has revealed that a second medical helicopter touched the ocean twice shortly before the fatal REACH Air Medical Services crash near Catalina Island on September 30, 2026.

The REACH aircraft climbed to approximately 90 feet before descending rapidly and striking the water, killing three of the five people aboard. The wreckage has been recovered for further examination.

Although the two helicopter departures occurred within less than a minute of one another, investigators have not established whether the events were related. The cause of the fatal crash remains under investigation.

Disclaimer

Information here is for general information purposes only. This article is based on the NTSB’s preliminary findings and published reporting available as of October 23, 2026. Preliminary reports may be revised as an investigation progresses. No final cause of the crash or confirmed connection between the two helicopter incidents has been established in the information cited here. Readers should consult official NTSB and FAA updates for further developments.