Dave died on July 14,1988 when a Twin Otter that he was piloting crashed about 30 miles west of John Day, OR. No cause for the crash has been determined. He was to pick up firefighting personnel to transport to fires in Montana. Dave had flown for the Johnson Flying Service and Intermountain Aviation before transferring to the Forest Service.

Dave was born June 4, 1926, in Marsing, Idaho, and is buried in Redmond, Oregon. Dave was born June 4, 1926, in Marsing, Idaho, and is buried in Redmond, Oregon. He jumped at McCall 1948 and Idaho City 1949-51.