By admin 
The two pilots killed in a helicopter crash in Yosemite National Park on Sunday have been identified.
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Greg King and Ryan Cutter were flying a Eurocopter AS32 as part of firefighting operations to battle the Dome Fire, burning near Wawona at the southern entrance of Yosemite. They were conducting water drops out of Ostrander Lake when the crash occurred.
The remains of both men were retrieved on Monday and carried in procession out of the park and to Modesto, where they would be transported to final destinations.
The pilots were contracted through Oregon company Fly Precision, which confirmed their identities on social media Wednesday.
“These two men brought honor to the mission. Their dedication and service will never be forgotten. Rest in peace.”
King, was a pilot from Alaska, who was remembered as “a cherished member of our wildland fire family, having served on wildland fires in Alaska and extensively alongside the Division of Forestry and Fire Protection.”
“King’s ties to our agency run deep, with close loved ones currently employed with our Division,” the agency wrote in a statement Tuesday.
Cutter was a resident of Park City, Utah, and a pilot for the CBS news station KUTV in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
“He piloted ‘Sky 2,’ flying news crews around Utah and operating from the helipads on top of the Wells Fargo Building in downtown Salt Lake City,” according to the station’s meteorologist, posting to Facebook. “My thoughts are with Ryan’s family, friends, fellow pilots, firefighters and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him, working alongside him or learning from him. His impact will not be forgotten.”
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Dome Fire at 3,522 Acres, 15% contained
Over the last week, the Dome Fire has grown to 3,522 Acres and stands at 15% containment, according to a daily incident report posted at inciweb.wildfire.gov.
The majority of the park is still open and operating, with the National Park Service saying it is experiencing “minor operational impacts,” from the fire. Still, a portion of the park — starting near the southern entrance and running north to the Badger Pass Ski Area and Glacier Point Road, and east from Wawona Road (Hwy 41) to Chinquapin — has been closed to visitors.
This includes the Chilnualna Falls trail and several others at the top of falls leading to Buena Vista and Crescent lakes. The lakes are accessible from the east, according to the park service. The Ostrander Trail near the Mono Meadows trailhead is closed, along with “all areas and trails south of it.”
While Glacier Point Road remains open, officials are warning visitors to use caution and watch firefighting operations on that road.
Park Service seeks public help with investigation
The Dome Fire remains under investigation, but the Park Service has hinted that it may have been an unauthorized campfire. On Tuesday, the Park Service put out a request for information from anyone who was in the area of Chilnualna Falls from Sept. 9-15. It is believed the fire started near the Chilnualna Falls Trailhead. Officials are looking for anyone who may have seen a burn campfire. Tips can be submitted by phone at 888-653-0009, online at go.nps.gov/SubmitATip or via email at [email protected].
Fire restrictions have been in place in the park since Aug. 1 for elevations at or below 8,000 feet.
This story was originally published September 22, 2026 at 2:46 PM with the headline “UPDATE: Second pilot ID’d in fatal crash of helicopter battling Yosemite’s Dome Fire.”
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