Costa Mesa Police Department, California
End of Watch: Tuesday, March 10, 1987
Age: 39
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Aircraft accident
Date of Incident: March 10, 1987
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Charged with murder
Police Officer Dave Ketchum and Police Officer John Libolt were killed when their helicopter was involved in a midair collision with the Newport Beach Police Department's helicopter while providing air support to a vehicle pursuit along MacArthur Boulevard.
The Costa Mesa's Hughes 500E helicopter's rotor blades sheered off, causing the aircraft to fall from the sky just south of the UC Irvine campus. Newport Beach's helicopter was able to make an emergency landing.
A civilian observer flying in the Costa Mesa helicopter was also killed. The driver of the fleeing vehicle was apprehended and charged with murder.