Kirk Brookbush
2000
Kirk B. Brookbush.
How He Died
Manner
Accident
Cause
Multiple traumatic injuries
What Happened
Inspector Kirk Brookbush and Police Officer James Dougherty were killed when their helicopter crashed near Crows Landing, Stanislaus County.
The officers were flying a Bell Jet Ranger OH-58 helicopter on a routine flight from a maintenance facility in Tulare County to San Francisco. They requested a flight level below 1,000 feet because of foggy conditions. After the request was made, at approximately 9:00 pm, the aircraft disappeared from radar screens. After an all-night search, the wreckage was discovered at 8:30 am the next morning in a field near I-5.
The officers were flying a Bell Jet Ranger OH-58 helicopter on a routine flight from a maintenance facility in Tulare County to San Francisco. They requested a flight level below 1,000 feet because of foggy conditions. After the request was made, at approximately 9:00 pm, the aircraft disappeared from radar screens. After an all-night search, the wreckage was discovered at 8:30 am the next morning in a field near I-5.
Service Record
Also Served
San Francisco Police Department
Inspector
In Our Keeping
Permanent identifier
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Record added
August 2, 2026
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Last updated
August 2, 2026
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