Helicopter Crash Kills Two

A helicopter that crashed, killing both occupants in a field near here, was a home-made device, investigators said.

On board were the flight instructor, Timothy Baker, 33, of Salem, and the pilot, Evan Sherman, 38, of Mount Vernon in Eastern Oregon.

The helicopter lost its tail rotor and crashed in a field near this Willamette Valley farm town on Saturday.

Two witnesses working in the field said the helicopter had flown overhead a couple of times and appeared to be performing aerial stunts before the rotor came off.

The helicopter crashed nose first in the field shortly after 2 p.m., exploded and burst into flames.

Marion County sheriffs deputies said it had taken off from a residence about four miles east of Salem.