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The February 10 helicopter crash that killed three men on the set of an upcoming Discovery Channel reality TV show occurred while the crew was prepping to film a nighttime maneuver, according to a preliminary report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board. Pilot David Gibbs, cameraman Darren Rydstrom, and cast member Michael Donatelli were shooting the untitled Eyeworks USA production when the Bell helicopter they were in collided into sloping terrain near Acton, California at 3:30 AM. The NTSB report dated February 22 revealed that “dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed” at the time of the accident. A GoPro camera and LED light panel had been set up on the aircraft’s windshield to film Donatelli, who was to perform a bag drop to a receiver on the ground. “While maneuvering about 60 miles per hour, the helicopter suddenly pitched down and collided with the terrain below the valley’s wall”, said the report. “The production crew had expected the helicopter to perform high passes prior to maneuvering around near the plateau for the action shot and did not have the cameras on the ground set up or filming”.
NTSB Details Fatal Discovery Channel Reality TV Crash
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Please note: in addition to the three deaths described above, two (2) more people died in a helicopter on Feb. 23 in Kenya while filming a different show for the Discovery Channel. That brings to a total of 5 people who have died in the last two weeks on Discovery Channel Shows. But wait. there’s more.
In 2010, Storm Chasers star, Matt Hughes committed suicide.
In 2009, TV pitchman and star of “Pitchmen,” Billy Mays was found dead. Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin – killed while making a show for Discovery in 2006. Capt. Phil Harris — Died while making Deadliest Catch for Discovery. One year later, a crew member from The Time Bandit, another featured boat on Deadliest Catch was found dead in his hotel room in Alaska. In 2006, while filming a series on Mt. Everest, a climber died, as well. In 2004, three men from three different Discovery Channel shows died, Indian Larry (Biker Build Off), Michael Tata (American Casino) Tim Roberts (Wing Nuts).
Plus, in early 2012, one of Shark Week’s renown cinematographers died in an unrelated helicopter crash in Australia. Perhaps some actual journalist will look into this and determine what role, if any, Discovery has played in these deaths.
Come on, you’re honestly trying to blame Discovery for the deaths of people who did so by their own hand? Suicide, drug overdose, stingray attack, congestive heart failures are Discovery’s fault. That’s stretching it a long way.
These people died while making TV shows for the Discovery Channel. I want to know things like what pressure were people under in order to perform their duties for the TV show? I want to know what kind of screening of people’s psychology Discovery does in advance of filming people who do “extreme” things? I want to know if those people who died might not have died had they not been participating in a TV show. I want to know if the network’s obsession for things that are sensational encourages people to do things which they might ordinarily consider unsafe? I want to know if the network’s obsession to bring viewers more and more programming where people’s life is on the line — encourages people whose life is on the line to take risks – in order to have a TV show that pays them more than their risky job? I want to know what safety procedures are in place to protect people who agree to have their lives filmed while doing dangerous things? You’re being naive if you think that pressure from a TV production company or TV network to deliver more and more “life threatening” programming couldn’t have played a role in people’s deaths. And let me repeat, in case any of this isn’t clear: I’m just asking questions. I’m not assigning blame. I’m saying LOTS of people have died while making programming for that channel… and I don’t see anything similar say at, History or Spike, or Tru, which do many of the same types of programs – and perhaps someone with some actual journalism credentials should look into this. That’s all.
You have some good questions but lets focus them.
Speaking from experience, there isn’t pressure put on these people to do their jobs. There are known dangers in this job and I would tend to lean towards lack of safety measures. Each of the shows you named are made by various production companies. You can not put the blame on Discovery solely. Who was in charge of the set that day? Was there a safety meeting? Were conditions, weather and/or equipment, ideal? Was there a safety officer?
NO ONE is given a psych evaluation before offered a job. That would break some serious labor laws.
I do not know a single person who puts their life on the line for a network, a show or anything else but for their own personal reasons. They have to weigh the risks for themselves. SHOULD THEY NOT BE GIVEN all the proper information to make an informed decision THEN I would turn to the production company and inquire. A buck is not worth your life. If they thought their life was seriously in jeopardy, I highly doubt they would have perfomed the duties.
Then again, there are adrenaline junkies. Look at Deadliest Catch, which has a three man team on each boat. They all know the risks prior to accepting the job and WILLINGLY sign their rights away. At some point, you can not point a finger at the production company but must do so at the individual. Look at the men who are on the boats their entire lives! They do it willing too and know the risks. We are simply there taping it.
All of these deaths are tragic and deeply sad. I knew Darren who died in this crash and he was a very responsible shooter and had everything going for him. He would not have risked it all for a shoot. He died doing what he loved and will be greatly missed.
I’m going to take your points one by one.
“Speaking from experience, there isn’t pressure put on these people to do their jobs.”
Lets assume you mean the people who are the stars of these shows. You are wrong about this. As just one example, look at the guy suing A&E from Storage Wars who complained that the show was a set up — that producers seeded lockers so what was found would be exciting. He got fired. This type of stuff happens ALL THE TIME.
Now, lets assume when you says “these people” you mean the crews of the TV shows. Again, you are wrong. Just plain wrong. The TV business is becoming more and more competitive, with many fewer jobs… and crew feel compelled to stay on the good side of producers who tend to work a lot so they can work a lot, as well. And sometimes that means cutting corners, etc.
Now, I’m NOT saying that happened in your friend’s case. I have NO idea other than what I read. Also — let me add this: I’m sorry for your loss.
“There are known dangers in this job and I would tend to lean towards lack of safety measures.”
I have no idea. Again, what I can say with certainty is that budgets for TV shows are smaller… what networks demand from producers is MORE… BIGGER… MORE EXCITING… and everyone in the industry feels pressure to deliver, so they can keep working.
“Each of the shows you named are made by various production companies. You can not put the blame on Discovery solely.”
I am not. If you read my original post, I want to know the answer to the question, what is their involvement? What is their culpability if there is any? It may turn out that it’s 70% production companies fault and 30% Discovery. It could be the other way. It could be none of those ways.
“Who was in charge of the set that day? Was there a safety meeting? Were conditions, weather and/or equipment, ideal? Was there a safety officer?”
All good questions. And then I’d follow up with: did the budget have a line item for these? Was their enough money in the budget so that the Production company could afford to get the network what they wanted, and still make money, or did they have to cut some corners and hope for the best?
“NO ONE is given a psych evaluation before offered a job. That would break some serious labor laws.”
Sorry. Again. You’re just wrong, if you’re talking about the stars of the show. They are REGULARLY given medical evaluations and must pass them in order to participate.
“I do not know a single person who puts their life on the line for a network, a show or anything else but for their own personal reasons.”
What if their reason is: “I’m a camera guy, and I need work. This show needs camera guys… and well, the pay isn’t what I’d prefer, and the safety isn’t all that I’d prefer, but it’s hard to walk away from 800 bucks a day.”
“They have to weigh the risks for themselves.”
Sometimes that’s hard. And the person doing the hiring doesn’t have all the information. And sometimes plans don’t come together as you would like. If it gets to be the big day of a big shoot and suddenly, production gets a call that the safety guy has the flu and can’t work, I suspect many people will do the shoot anyhow, and hope for the best, because it’s unlikely the network will cover overages… And producers who want to keep working do not get to work very long if they’re constantly calling the network to ask for more money.
“SHOULD THEY NOT BE GIVEN all the proper information to make an informed decision THEN I would turn to the production company and inquire. A buck is not worth your life. If they thought their life was seriously in jeopardy, I highly doubt they would have perfomed the duties.”
Again, you are wrong. I think people foolishly put themselves in harms way too often because they need the work, the money or the credit.
“Then again, there are adrenaline junkies. Look at Deadliest Catch, which has a three man team on each boat. They all know the risks prior to accepting the job and WILLINGLY sign their rights away. At some point, you can not point a finger at the production company but must do so at the individual.”
I’m not absolving people of their own responsibility. I don’t suggest it. And I never inferred it. HOWEVER — People make terrible decisions all the time. Fishermen are no different. Not only do they get paid for their fishing work… but they also get paid for being on TV… and if that business is as tough as it seems to be — I believe people WOULD take the gig for the double pay day.
“Look at the men who are on the boats their entire lives! They do it willing too and know the risks. We are simply there taping it.”
You clearly don’t work in this genre of TV. Producers of “reality” shows routinely interfere with the “reality” in order to heighten it. To what extent varies… But, it happens all the time.
“All of these deaths are tragic and deeply sad. I knew Darren who died in this crash and he was a very responsible shooter and had everything going for him. He would not have risked it all for a shoot. He died doing what he loved and will be greatly missed.”
I have no doubt your friend was skilled, smart, and all of the other good qualities we associate with people we like, love, etc. However, I have no idea what happened out there in Kenya on a shoot… I don’t know anything about helicopters or helicopter safety… Any number of things could have happened: it could have been a fluke, and accident. It could have been pilot error. It could have been bad winds. It could have been equipment malfunction. It also could have been two guys anxious to get the shots they missed the day before because they ran long… Who wanted to be good employees and deliver what was promised — and rushed so they could get back for the shooting that had already started that day. I could make up more scenarios… But, that’s not the point.
When there’s more information, we’ll be better able to assign fault… if there is any. Like I said from the outset — perhaps someone with journalistic integrity or skills would do some real investigating, so we REDUCE the # of fatalities. Afterall, we’re just making TV.
It is 100% illegal to give a potential hire a psych evaluation. A medical checkup for cast insurance yes, but not a mental evaluation for every cast & crew member you attempt to hire.
I wasn’t talking about the crew. I’m talking about the cast.
A GO-Pro taped to the window, a LED Light Panel, No Cameras on the Ground.. WTF a $500 production. One can only wonder the high quality safety procedures that were in place. Possibly A box of Band Aids.. Realty TV Sucks… Really how unbelievable freaking cheap. Not to mention deadly.
We gave a psych eval to potential cast on a reality pilot for OWN. It needs to be done for everyone’s safety when dealing with real people who have sketchy mental health. We watch them because they’re just this side of nuts.
You know what, screw you! You don’t know my background and yet you CONTINUE to tell me just how wrong I am. FIVE TIMES. You clearly know all the answers and just want to sit here and insult people. If you pose the question, expect answers. If you don’t like the answers, don’t tell people that they are flat out wrong. My experience, 12 years of it in this Reality TV world with pyro and various stunts, DOES qualify me to answer these questions yet you think you are above it and dismiss my answers.
Losing anyone is a terrible loss, yes, we all want answers to why these people died. Don’t dismiss those that give them to you.
Let me begin by saying I like it that you’re fired up. It’s that type of passion that will help keep things safe.
Now, a bit about me: I am an executive producer and creator of nearly 100 hours of game/reality/factual entertainment. I own my own company and have worked for many others. Not only do I create and run shows, I’m also involved in every other stage of production: from permits and insurance, to booking locations, hiring crew, etc. I’m aware of how budgets have shrunk, how some producers cut corners, how some companies try and save money, how others alter the reality they’re filming, etc. You’re just going to have to trust that I’m telling you the truth — the ugly, sad, truth. As for this discussion, this will be my last thought on it.
Regarding this comment:
“Losing anyone is a terrible loss, yes, we all want answers to why these people died. Don’t dismiss those that give them to you.”
You’re completely out of your mind if you think you answered any questions as to why they died. All you’ve done is pose questions you’re clearly not qualified to answer. There are enough questions out there surrounding this accident without you attempting to link them to other tragedies.
@RealityTVProducer – I support you entirely and could not agree with your line below more:
“I do not know a single person who puts their life on the line for a network, a show or anything else but for their own personal reasons. They have to weigh the risks for themselves. SHOULD THEY NOT BE GIVEN all the proper information to make an informed decision THEN I would turn to the production company and inquire. A buck is not worth your life. If they thought their life was seriously in jeopardy, I highly doubt they would have perfomed the duties.”
I have also been in the business for many years, producing what I call “guys in danger” types of shows (Whale Wars, Deadliest Catch, etc). Recently I was seriously injured while filming a History Channel series in South America. When it came time to evacuate me, it turns out that there was no safety plan or medical evac plan in place — even though those documents had been submitted to the network.
They were completely falsified. Point is, this has gone on too many times and for too long.
We are often willing to risk our lives on these shows but ONLY if we believe that what we are told is in place is ACTUALLY in place.
My story was profiled on the front page of the LA Times a few weeks ago, and I’ve written about it in my blog. I’m trying to speak up as much as possible — even though it’s scary as a BTS person — because I don’t want to see anyone else get hurt in the line of duty in what could be preventable accidents.