Second man dies in Nevada copter crash
Halfbrother of Milford pilot succumbs to injuries; FAA investigating cause
A New Fairfield man, who was a passenger on a helicopter that crashed in Nevada last week, has died.
Howard Jameson, 27, died of injuries sustained in the crash that also claimed the life of helicopter pilot Scott Socquet, 53, of Milford.
The two were halfbrothers.
The Clark County coroner said Monday that Jameson died on Friday at University Medical Center in Las Vegas. The helicopter crashed on a sightseeing flight on Oct. 23 near Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.
Nevada Highway Patrol reported the crash around 4:20 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, off state Route 159 near the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center.
Jameson and Socquet were part of a family team with the Great Race, an organization of car enthusiasts who participate in rallies around the country in vintage automobiles.
Howard Jameson was the youngest son of Linda and Jesse Jameson, of New Fairfield, the organization said. Socquet is the oldest son of Linda Jameson.
“I just hurt for Linda, Jesse . . . the entire family,” said Great Race director Jeff Stumb.
Officials from the Great Race said the pair, who they said joined the organization three years ago and had so much fun that they formed two family teams.
The family had two vehicles, a 1952 “Fabulous Hudson Hornet” and a 1966 “Dodge Coronet FBI car,” and had added a third for the 2020 race season — a 1956 Chrysler 300B, the organization said.
Howard Jameson and Stumb recently had dinner in Chattanooga, Tenn., Stumb said. “He was so excited about the new car for the 2020 Great Race and about his upcoming wedding,” Stumb said.
“They were one in a million, anyone would tell you that,” said Neil Socquett, Scott’s brother, Tuesday. He said the family plans to hold services for the two men on Nov. 9 in Milford.
Neil Socquet said he had a “very extensive discussion” with officials from the National Transportation Safety Board, which conducts investigations into civil aviation accidents.
“I can tell you that one of the witnesses said it was an equipment failure,” Neil Socquet said.
“My younger brother
Howard donated his organs ... 26 people are going to benefit from his organ donations,” said Neil, who said Howard had married five weeks before.
“They helped people like you can’t believe,” he added.
He told Fox 5 in Las Vegas, “They would want us to celebrate them, not cry and just carry on, That’s how they were. They would be pranking each other in the hospital now. That’s just how they were.”
“Any text, any voicemail, any call, any picture — could be the last one that the person on the other side receives. Remember that,” he said.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the helicopter involved in the crash was registered to Binner Enterprises, a flight school in Henderson, Nev. Socquet previously rented helicopters from Binner Enterprises
Socquet’s zoominfo business file links him with Epic Aviation Management, based out of Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford. The company offers services including aircraft management, aircraft sales and affiliate charter flights.
Property records show he has lived in Milford since 2003.
According to the FAA, Socquet was certified to fly as an airline transport pilot on single and multiengine aircraft. He also had commercial privileges on rotocraft/helicopters and was certified as a flight instructor on single and multiengine aircraft.
His last medical information was updated in January with the requirement that he must have available glasses for near vision.
Jason Buratczuk, an officer with the Nevada Highway Patrol, said good Samaritans jumped in to help Socquet and Jameson before emergency responders got to the site of the crash. Socquet died the day of the crash; Jameson three days later.
Socquet died of bluntforce trauma as a result of the accident, the coroner’s office said. Jameson’s cause and manner of death remain under investigation.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash.