Springs Soldier Dies In Helicopter Crash

A Colorado Springs man was killed in a military helicopter crash in Washington State Monday night.

36-year-old Chief Warrant Officer Frank Buoniconti is a Doherty High School graduate.

Investigators said two U.S. Army OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters crashed in the southwest training area on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, killing all four aviators on board. According to a base safety officer, the helicopters were on a routine night training flight. An investigation into the cause of the accident by a team from Fort Rucker, Ala., began Wednesday. Lt. Col. Gary Dangerfield says the investigation could take as long as a year.

Buoniconti was an Army aviator who had served on active duty since July 1994. He arrived for duty at JBLM in early November 2011.

Buoniconti was commissioned a Warrant Officer in 2003, and since has had assignments at Fort Bragg, N.C., and the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif. He deployed to Iraq twice, and Afghanistan twice. Buoniconti’s awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (six awards), Army Commendation Medal (nine awards), and the Army Commendation Medal w/”V” device, the Army Senior Aviator Badge, and other awards and decorations.

Three others were killed in the crash. They are Capt. Anne M. Montgomery, a native of North Dakota; Chief Warrant Officer Joseph S. Satterfield, a native of Alaska; and Chief Warrant Officer Lucas Daniel Sigfrid, a native of Alabama.

Buoniconti’s parents said Tuesday that their son lived his life to help others. He was married to his high school sweetheart, Kryste Buoniconti. They had four children, including an HIV-positive baby boy that they just adopted.

A family friend says the family still has adoption costs from the little boy they brought into their family.

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