ESTES, Donald
Source: Fountain County Star Thursday, June 25, 1981
Federal Aviation Administration officials investigating a June 16 helicopter crash west of Danville, Illinois said the incident was not caused by aircraft malfunction. Donald Estes, 27, of 216 Market, Covington, the pilot of the plane, died in the crash.
Estes was crop dusting with the helicopter, owned by Swing Wing Inc. of Veedersburg, on a cornfield near the entrance road to Kickapoo State Park. He had just filled the tank with insecticide and was flying at the north end of the field, spraying east to west.
The helicopter hit a guide wire stretched between two utility poles according to witnesses. The copter fell about 25 feet and burst into flames. Vermillion County Coroner Lyle Irvin said Estes died from the fire and not from injuries, which he said were minor.
The aircraft was a one-seated WASP, a popular craft for crop dusting.
An FFA official said that usually a guide wire runs from the top of the pole to the ground, but in this instance, it ran between two power poles, located about 90 feet apart. The cable wrapped around the main rotor mast between the helicopter’s cabin and the blades. It was theorized that Estes did not see the wire.
Estes was a graduate of Georgetown Illinois High School. He earned his fixed wing pilot rating; then later the commercial rotorcraft rating. He went to Tulsa, Oklahoma and attended the Allied Helicopter Service where he received his agricultural flight training.
He worked for a time in South Bay, Florida, for Allied as a pilot. In February 1981, he became associated with Swing Wing Service Inc. of Veedersburg.
Born September 11, 1953, in Danville, Illinois, he was the son of Donald and Emma Jean Miller Estes. He was married September 19, 1980, in Belle Glade, Florida, to Terri Snyder, who survives.
Other survivors include his parents of Georgetown; a sister, Mrs. David (Donna Jean) Mitchell of Tilton; and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ora Miller of Georgetown.
Services were concluded Friday at Houghton Funeral Home in Georgetown. Rev. William Tullin officiated and burial was in Georgetown Cemetery. – thanks to S
Source: Fountain County Star Thursday, June 18, 1981
Don Estes of Covington was killed Tuesday morning, June 16, when his helicopter crashed in a cornfield west of Danville, Illinois.
The 27 year old Estes was spraying insecticide on the field. Around 9:30 a.m. the helicopter hit a utility pole guide wire and crashed, bursting into flames. An eyewitness said Estes was circling over the field, made a pass and then hit the wire, then went “straight down” into the field. Other witnesses said Estes had just maneuvered around one set of utility wires before hitting the one, which cause the crash.
Dennis Connor, who lives across the road from the field being sprayed, ran to the crash scene. He said one of Estes’ hands still gripped the bar on the helicopter, making it appear he had tried to get out.
The crash vehicle was a single seat helicopter called a WASP, a modified military aircraft. FAA authorities are investigating the crash. – thanks to S