Dean was an H-3 helicopter pilot in the Navy and was based at North Island Naval Air Station in Coronado, California. One night on a routine training flight when there was no moon and no visible horizon, the helicopter flew into the Pacific Ocean, killing all four people on board.
Dean was survived by his parents and his wife of three months, who was six weeks pregnant with their son. His remains were recovered about eight months later.
***
Los Angeles Times
Navy Pilot Identified in Crash of Helicopter
October 06, 1988
A Florida man was identified Wednesday as the pilot of a Navy SH-3H anti-submarine helicopter that crashed this week, killing all four aboard.
Lt. Lee J. Lacroix, 27, of St. Petersburg was the last victim identified in the crash, which occurred early Tuesday during a routine training search-and-rescue mission about 80 miles off San Diego.
An all-night search that led to the partial recovery of the wreckage was prompted at about 1 a.m. Tuesday after the helicopter crew failed to check in by radio to the aircraft carrier Ranger, from which it was operating, said Ken Mitchell, a spokesman at North Island Naval Air Station.
The Navy has ended its efforts to recover the rest of the wreckage, which is believed to be about 200 feet below sea level, Mitchell said.
"There are no bodies at this time, and there is still no speculation as to the cause of the crash," he said, adding that the investigation will be difficult because there are no witnesses. The investigation could take six weeks to six months, Mitchell said.
Two crashes of the SH-3H, also known as the Sea King, have occurred in the past five years, he said, including a November, 1987, crash in Japan and one in May, 1986, off the coast of San Diego. However, he said the Sea King is "an extremely safe helicopter."
All four crew members lived in San Diego and belonged to Squadron HS-14, including Lacroix, who joined the Navy in June, 1985; co-pilot Lt. (j.g.) Dean A. Patrick, 26, of Hesperia, Mich., who joined the Navy in June, 1985; John J. Taylor, 22, of Lawrenceburg, Ind., who joined in December, 1984; and John E. Palmquist, 22, of Columbus, Ohio, who joined in December, 1985.
Dean was survived by his parents and his wife of three months, who was six weeks pregnant with their son. His remains were recovered about eight months later.
***
Los Angeles Times
Navy Pilot Identified in Crash of Helicopter
October 06, 1988
A Florida man was identified Wednesday as the pilot of a Navy SH-3H anti-submarine helicopter that crashed this week, killing all four aboard.
Lt. Lee J. Lacroix, 27, of St. Petersburg was the last victim identified in the crash, which occurred early Tuesday during a routine training search-and-rescue mission about 80 miles off San Diego.
An all-night search that led to the partial recovery of the wreckage was prompted at about 1 a.m. Tuesday after the helicopter crew failed to check in by radio to the aircraft carrier Ranger, from which it was operating, said Ken Mitchell, a spokesman at North Island Naval Air Station.
The Navy has ended its efforts to recover the rest of the wreckage, which is believed to be about 200 feet below sea level, Mitchell said.
"There are no bodies at this time, and there is still no speculation as to the cause of the crash," he said, adding that the investigation will be difficult because there are no witnesses. The investigation could take six weeks to six months, Mitchell said.
Two crashes of the SH-3H, also known as the Sea King, have occurred in the past five years, he said, including a November, 1987, crash in Japan and one in May, 1986, off the coast of San Diego. However, he said the Sea King is "an extremely safe helicopter."
All four crew members lived in San Diego and belonged to Squadron HS-14, including Lacroix, who joined the Navy in June, 1985; co-pilot Lt. (j.g.) Dean A. Patrick, 26, of Hesperia, Mich., who joined the Navy in June, 1985; John J. Taylor, 22, of Lawrenceburg, Ind., who joined in December, 1984; and John E. Palmquist, 22, of Columbus, Ohio, who joined in December, 1985.
Dean was an H-3 helicopter pilot in the Navy and was based at North Island Naval Air Station in Coronado, California. One night on a routine training flight when there was no moon and no visible horizon, the helicopter flew into the Pacific Ocean, killing all four people on board.
Dean was survived by his parents and his wife of three months, who was six weeks pregnant with their son. His remains were recovered about eight months later.
***
Los Angeles Times
Navy Pilot Identified in Crash of Helicopter
October 06, 1988
A Florida man was identified Wednesday as the pilot of a Navy SH-3H anti-submarine helicopter that crashed this week, killing all four aboard.
Lt. Lee J. Lacroix, 27, of St. Petersburg was the last victim identified in the crash, which occurred early Tuesday during a routine training search-and-rescue mission about 80 miles off San Diego.
An all-night search that led to the partial recovery of the wreckage was prompted at about 1 a.m. Tuesday after the helicopter crew failed to check in by radio to the aircraft carrier Ranger, from which it was operating, said Ken Mitchell, a spokesman at North Island Naval Air Station.
The Navy has ended its efforts to recover the rest of the wreckage, which is believed to be about 200 feet below sea level, Mitchell said.
"There are no bodies at this time, and there is still no speculation as to the cause of the crash," he said, adding that the investigation will be difficult because there are no witnesses. The investigation could take six weeks to six months, Mitchell said.
Two crashes of the SH-3H, also known as the Sea King, have occurred in the past five years, he said, including a November, 1987, crash in Japan and one in May, 1986, off the coast of San Diego. However, he said the Sea King is "an extremely safe helicopter."
All four crew members lived in San Diego and belonged to Squadron HS-14, including Lacroix, who joined the Navy in June, 1985; co-pilot Lt. (j.g.) Dean A. Patrick, 26, of Hesperia, Mich., who joined the Navy in June, 1985; John J. Taylor, 22, of Lawrenceburg, Ind., who joined in December, 1984; and John E. Palmquist, 22, of Columbus, Ohio, who joined in December, 1985.
Dean was survived by his parents and his wife of three months, who was six weeks pregnant with their son. His remains were recovered about eight months later.
***
Los Angeles Times
Navy Pilot Identified in Crash of Helicopter
October 06, 1988
A Florida man was identified Wednesday as the pilot of a Navy SH-3H anti-submarine helicopter that crashed this week, killing all four aboard.
Lt. Lee J. Lacroix, 27, of St. Petersburg was the last victim identified in the crash, which occurred early Tuesday during a routine training search-and-rescue mission about 80 miles off San Diego.
An all-night search that led to the partial recovery of the wreckage was prompted at about 1 a.m. Tuesday after the helicopter crew failed to check in by radio to the aircraft carrier Ranger, from which it was operating, said Ken Mitchell, a spokesman at North Island Naval Air Station.
The Navy has ended its efforts to recover the rest of the wreckage, which is believed to be about 200 feet below sea level, Mitchell said.
"There are no bodies at this time, and there is still no speculation as to the cause of the crash," he said, adding that the investigation will be difficult because there are no witnesses. The investigation could take six weeks to six months, Mitchell said.
Two crashes of the SH-3H, also known as the Sea King, have occurred in the past five years, he said, including a November, 1987, crash in Japan and one in May, 1986, off the coast of San Diego. However, he said the Sea King is "an extremely safe helicopter."
All four crew members lived in San Diego and belonged to Squadron HS-14, including Lacroix, who joined the Navy in June, 1985; co-pilot Lt. (j.g.) Dean A. Patrick, 26, of Hesperia, Mich., who joined the Navy in June, 1985; John J. Taylor, 22, of Lawrenceburg, Ind., who joined in December, 1984; and John E. Palmquist, 22, of Columbus, Ohio, who joined in December, 1985.
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