The U.S. Army has identified four elite special operations soldiers who perished when their MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a routine training mission near Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state. The incident, which occurred on September 17, 2025, has cast a somber shadow over the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), known as the “Night Stalkers”—a unit renowned for conducting high-stakes nighttime missions in support of America’s most secretive operations.
The helicopter went down around 9 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time in a rural area near Summit Lake, approximately 35 miles west of the base, which lies about 10 miles south of Tacoma under the U.S. Army Joint Base Headquarters’ jurisdiction. Weather conditions at the time were favorable, with mostly clear skies and light southerly winds, according to the National Weather Service. The crash sparked a wildfire that was later contained, but the cause remains under investigation by Army officials.
The fallen soldiers, all assigned to the 4th Battalion of the 160th SOAR at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, were identified as:
- Chief Warrant Officer 3 Andrew Cully, 35, from Sparta, Missouri: A UH-60M Black Hawk pilot who joined the Army in 2008, deployed twice to Europe for Operations Atlantic Resolve and Swift Response, and completed instructor pilot training in 2022.
- Chief Warrant Officer 3 Andrew Kraus, 39, from Sanibel, Florida: An aviation warrant officer who enlisted in 2017, supported multiple training missions, and deployed for contingency response operations.
- Sgt. Donavon Scott, 25, from Tacoma, Washington: A UH-60 helicopter repairer who enlisted and served on two missions supporting Operation Inherent Resolve.
- Sgt. Jadalyn Good, 23, from Mount Vernon, Washington: A dedicated crew member whose service exemplified the unit’s commitment to excellence.
Col. Stephen Smith, commander of the 160th SOAR, released a heartfelt statement on September 22: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we confirm the loss of four courageous Night Stalkers… These exceptional warriors… embodied the unwavering dedication, selflessness, and excellence that define the very spirit of the Army and Army Special Operations. Their sacrifice in service to our nation will forever be etched in our hearts and in the legacy of the Night Stalkers. These heroes were not only elite professionals but also cherished teammates, friends, and family members whose absence leaves an immeasurable void.”
The 160th SOAR, headquartered at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, with battalions at Lewis-McChord and Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, specializes in covert insertions, extractions, and support for special forces. This tragedy marks the second fatal incident for the unit in recent years. In November 2023, five Night Stalkers from the Kentucky-based contingent died when their Black Hawk crashed during a routine air refueling mission in the Eastern Mediterranean. Broader Army aviation has faced scrutiny amid a string of accidents, including a March 2024 Apache crash at Lewis-McChord that hospitalized two soldiers and a Kentucky Black Hawk collision that killed nine earlier that year.
As the investigation continues, the Army has lowered flags to half-staff at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in honor of the fallen. Their legacy endures in the Night Stalkers’ creed: “Night Stalkers Don’t Quit.”
Our thoughts are with the families, friends, and comrades of these brave service members. For updates, follow official Army channels.
