Base mourns four who died in crash

RAINIER, Wash. – The parents of one of the four Army aviators killed when two helicopters crashed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord say their son was a veteran of tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Silvia Buoniconti of Colorado Springs, Colo., told the Colorado Springs Gazette that her son, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Frank Buoniconti III, 36, was among those killed in Monday night’s accident.

“He was a great guy,” she told the newspaper Tuesday. “I’m so in shock and so is my husband.”

Her son followed his father into the military, serving three overseas tours. He joined up because “he felt it was the right thing to do,” she said.

The Army has not yet identified the dead pending full notification of relatives.

Lt. Col. Gary Dangerfield said an investigative team from Fort Rucker, Ala., arrived Tuesday night in Seattle and planned to begin its investigation today.

The two-seat reconnaissance choppers crashed after 8 p.m. Monday in the southwest training area of the sprawling base, killing all four on board, according to the Army.

It remained unclear whether the aircraft collided or crashed separately.

Chief Warrant Officer 5 James Oliphant, an aviation safety officer at the base, said the aviators’ colleagues have halted further activity as they analyze and grieve the tragedy.

“Right now the organization will stand down to begin the healing process,” Oliphant said.

The aircraft involved were OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters, often called scout helicopters. The single-engine, four-bladed aircraft are used for armed reconnaissance.

Oliphant said the airmen were on a routine night training flight.