United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Saturday, June 13, 1992
Age: 49
Tour of Duty: 19 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Aircraft accident
Date of Incident: June 13, 1992
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Pilot Louis Stahl was killed in a helicopter crash near Sunland Park, New Mexico while tracking a group of suspected illegal aliens at about 1:20 pm.
The Hughes OH-6 helicopter he was piloting struck a set of powerlines approximately 75 feet above railroad tracks just east of Mount Cristo Rey. As a result of striking the lines, the helicopter was knocked into the second set of powerlines and then fell to the ground.
The subjects that Pilot Stahl was tracking immediately went to a nearby business and alerted employees of the crash. The employees called 911 and then went to the scene to render aid until rescue units arrived. Pilot Stahl succumbed to injuries at the scene.
Pilot Stahl was a United States Army veteran of the Vietnam War and had served with the United States Border Patrol for 19 years. He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
He was buried in the Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, Texas.