A helicopter went down in the Santa Clara River bottom, near Piru just east of Torrey Road bridge, Saturday, January 31st. The pilot, Hiroyuki Hoiuchi, 47, of Japan, was killed in the crash.

Horiuchi took off from Camarillo Airport around 10:30 a.m. and crashed the Robinson R-22 two-seater about 11:07 a.m. The rugged area made access to the crash site difficult for rescue personnel, according to Chief Tim Hagel, Fillmore Sheriffs.

The victim worked for Shizuoka Air Commuter Co. Ltd., and is survived by his wife and two children in Japan.
Horiuchi was an experienced pilot; the crash is still under investigation by the Federal aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board at press time.