Seth L. Olmstead Identified as Soldier Killed in Texas Apache Helicopter Crash

Seth L. Olmstead, 25, has been identified by Fort Hood as one of the two U.S. Army soldiers killed when an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed near Salado, Texas.

The Army released Olmstead’s name Friday as part of the latest update following the fatal crash during a maintenance test flight.

Olmstead, of Belton, Texas, was a warrant officer assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 2023 as a warrant officer candidate and was assigned to the unit in October 2025.

Seth L. Olmstead Killed During Apache Maintenance Test

Olmstead was aboard the AH-64 Apache with Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey, 34, when the helicopter crashed in a field near Salado shortly after 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The soldiers had been conducting a routine maintenance test when the aircraft went down.

Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.

Helicopter Crash Sparked Large Wildfire

The crash also sparked a grass fire that spread across approximately 155 acres, forcing the closure of FM 2843 and prompting some nearby residents to evacuate.

The helicopter did not strike any homes or structures.

Fort Hood leadership offered condolences to the families of Olmstead and Huey and said support services, including chaplains, were being made available to those affected.

The Fort Hood Criminal Investigation Division continues to investigate the cause of the crash.