Wife: Helicopter pilot killed in crash near Ely did what he loved best
A veteran helicopter pilot killed in a crash during an aerial reseeding operation over wildfire-scarred federal land in eastern Nevada was mourned Tuesday by friends and officials, but his widow said he died happy.
“He died doing what he loved best,” Rachel McBride said.
Teddy R. McBride, 74, known to everyone as Ted, retired in 2009 after more than 40 years piloting helicopters over northeastern Nevada for El Aero Services of Elko.
He still flew part time because customers wanted him, Rachel McBride said.
On Monday, he crashed while dusting seed across rugged terrain charred in late June by the more than four-square-mile Pinto Fire about 50 miles west of Ely and 30 miles east of Eureka.
Sheriff’s Capt. Scott Henriod said it appeared the Bell 206B clipped a power line before crashing about 3 p.m. Monday in a remote part of White Pine County.
NV Energy Corp. spokesman Karl Walquist said no customer outage occurred, but crews were checking the 345-kilovolt transmission line for damage.
Ginna Reyes of El Aero Services said that McBride was using a dusting bin suspended by a cable from beneath the helicopter at the time of the crash.
The cause is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Rachel McBride said a son lives in Sedona, Ariz., a stepdaughter lives in Orvada, and a stepson lives in Elko. Ted McBride didn’t want a funeral, Rachel McBride said. She said he will be cremated, and his ashes will be scattered in the Ruby Mountains of northeastern Nevada.
