Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Survivors of Former Disney Exec Sue Over Helicopter Crash

Disney President Frank G. Wells, who sponsored the heli-skiing vacation, was one of four people who died in the April 3, 1994 crash near Lamoille in Elko County. His wife, Luanne C. Wells, filed the suit Monday in U.S. District court in Reno on behalf of herself and the couple's two sons.

Reports indicated two helicopters had flown in to ferry the skiing party back to the base camp, but a fierce storm blew in and forced one to land and wait. The helicopter crashed seconds after it took off about two hours later.

The Ruby Mountain Heli-Ski chopper went down in a steep canyon near the 7,200-foot level of the mountains about 25 miles southeast of Elko.

The suit is the third related to the wreck filed since last week. All seek unspecified damages. The other suits were filed by the families of ski guide Paul Scannell, of Tahoe City, Calif., and filmmaker Beverly Ann Johnson, of Kelly, Wyo.

The pilot, Dave Walton, of North Fork, Idaho, also died. Johnson's husband, Mike Hoover, was the lone survivor.

The lawsuits name the helicopter's manufacturer - Bell Helicopter Textron of Texas - and Nevada-based aircraft provider El Aero Services, as defendants.

Heli-skiers take helicopters to remote back-country areas that are otherwise inaccessible to ski fresh powder.

Actor Clint Eastwood also was on the trip, but left before the crash to return to his home in Carmel, Calif,.

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