A thrill-seeking helicopter pilot, known for his daring high-speed and low-altitude flights, has been identified as the owner of the helicopter that lost control and crashed into a seaside hotel in Huntington Beach, California, on Saturday afternoon.
Eric Nixon, an aviation enthusiast famous online for his breathtaking aerial stunts, has been sharing videos of his incredible maneuvers over the American West for years.
Now, those same videos are taking on a chilling new light following the terrifying crash that left five people injured.
A video captured by witnesses shows Nixon’s helicopter spinning out of control before crashing into palm trees near The Waterfront Beach Resort, scattering debris and prompting beach visitors to flee.
Witnesses gasped as the aircraft appeared to lose control, its tail rotor apparently failing before it plunged toward the ground.
According to Huntington Beach Police, both individuals aboard the helicopter were rescued and are alive, but their current health status is not provided. Additionally, three pedestrians were injured in the incident, as confirmed by authorities.
Officials later confirmed that the helicopter was part of the annual Cars N’ Copters event, a glamorous weekend occasion that attracts hundreds of luxury vehicles and private helicopters to the Huntington Beach area.
The aircraft was flying to join the display when tragedy struck.
Eric Nixon, shown here with his wife, Kim, is recognized by thousands online for his thrilling stunts in various helicopters.
The helicopter suddenly lost control and began spiraling in midair, eventually losing altitude and slamming into a row of palms as stunned sunbathers and beachgoers looked on
Footage on Eric Nixon’s Instagram show he is familiar with the Huntington Beach area often showing off as he flies over the beach’s parking lot
Friends describe Nixon as a passionate flyer who ‘lived and breathed helicopters.’
His Instagram account is filled with adrenaline-pumping clips of low-altitude dashes, tight turns, and desert skims – each one more audacious than the last.
In one recent post, Nixon can be seen hurtling across a desert floor barely 20 feet above ground level with a truck speeding toward him from the opposite direction.
In another, he performs a sweeping low-level fly-by in a Bell AH-1 Cobra – a single-engine military-grade attack helicopter once used by the US Army.
Many of Nixon’s videos feature him threading between palm trees, banking over beaches, or roaring past friends on dirt buggies in the Baja Nevada desert, often sometimes just feet from the ground.
Viewers can hear him laughing or whooping as the rotor wash whips up sand and dust.
Despite his daredevil reputation, Nixon occasionally struck a note of restraint.
In a post from May this year, he filmed himself setting one of his helicopters down in on the side of a mountain, explaining that he was waiting out bad weather.
Nixon has spent years posting footage of himself performing jaw-dropping maneuvers across the skies of the American West – occasionally racing trucks across the desert as seen here
In one recent post, Nixon can be seen hurtling across a desert floor barely 20 feet above ground level with a truck speeding toward him from the opposite direction
The videos take on a chilling new light following the terrifying crash that left five people injured
The aircraft was flying to join a special event at Huntington Beach when disaster struck
‘Set down and waited it out rather than keeping my original schedule. Safety first!’ he wrote in the caption.
Nixon, who has been married to his wife Kim for more than 20 years, could be seen together in lighter moments with hangar photos, and casual flyovers near home – underscoring how deeply aviation was woven into his life.
Saturday’s event was meant to celebrate that passion.
Promotional materials for the Helicopter Landing Party, part of the Cars N’ Copters weekend, promised a stunning display of 12 aircraft and more than 300 exotic cars at the beachside resort.
Videos from last year’s edition show Nixon swooping dramatically over the same hotel, his helicopter skimming the tops of the California palm trees as crowds below cheered and filmed.
This year’s celebration ended in horror instead. Within seconds of the mechanical failure, Nixon’s chopper plummeted onto the hotel grounds narrowly missing the packed promenade.
Eric Nixon has been married to wife, Kim, for 20 years. He calls her his ‘life copilot’
Nixon, together with his wife, Kim, can be seen together in lighter moments with chopper photos, and casual flyovers near their home
Nixon would often fly his helicopter with his wife aboard to visit fun places such as Nevada
The FAA and NTSB are now investigating what caused the crash.
Early reports suggest the possibility of a tail-rotor malfunction, a catastrophic issue that can cause instant loss of control.
By Saturday evening, officials cordoned off the crash site, and investigators began combing through the wreckage for clues.
The twisted frame of the helicopter lay wedged among toppled palms.
The City of Huntington Beach confirmed in a statement that the aircraft was registered to a participant in the Cars N’ Copters event.
‘Our thoughts are with those injured,’ the city said. ‘We are working closely with federal agencies to determine the cause.’
