Update: Navy Identifies Missing Pilot in Fatal Helicopter Crash

Published Jan 10, 2014 9:36 AM by The Maritime Executive

On Jan. 8, 2014 a Navy MH-53E helicopter crashed off the coast of Virginia Beach, Va. The wife of the missing pilot has asked the Navy to release his name. The family asks for privacy during this difficult time. The missing pilot is Lt. Sean Christopher Snyder, 39, from Santee, Calif.

Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 (MDSU 2) divers entered the water at approximately 5 p.m. on Jan. 9th in support of the search for the missing service member. Additional Navy assets including USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE 13), USNS Grasp (T-ARS 51), and Navy H-60 helicopters continue search operations.

U.S. Coast Guard cutter Shearwater also continues to provide support, but the agency later suspended its search on Thursday. Virginia Beach Fire and Rescue small boats are no longer on-scene.

MDSU 2 located the wreckage 15nm east of Cape Henry utilizing side-scanning sonar. Grasp anchored over the wreckage to aid in inspecting the site with a Seabotix Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) prior to divers entering the water.

Five crewmembers were on board the MH-53E when it crashed. Two of the four rescued crew members subsequently died of their injuries. One of the surviving crew members was released from the hospital today, and one crew member remains hospitalized at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

The Sailors killed were Lieutenant J. Wesley Van Dorn, 29, of Greensboro, N.C. and Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) (AWS-3) Brian Andrew Collins, 25, of Truckee, Cal.

Van Dorn, a Navy pilot, had been in the Navy for 6 years, 7 months and Collins had served for 2 years, 2 months.

The crew members were all assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 14 based at Norfolk Naval Station Chambers Field. They were flying an MH-53E "Sea Dragon" on a routine mine countermeasure training exercise when the accident happened.

The cause of the crash is being investigated.