Margaret Rimmler, Patrick Haskell, 1 Killed, 2 Injured in Helicopter Tour Crash in Kaua’i, HI

Basic Facts

Crash date: 3-26-2026

Crash location: Island of Kaua’i, Hawai’i

People involved:

• Margaret Rimmler, 65
• Patrick Haskell, 59
• Unidentified Woman, 40
• Unidentified
• Unidentified

Do Authorities suspect alcohol played a role in this crash?: Unknown

Did authorities recommend criminal charges?: Unknown

Do authorities suspect a product defect caused the crash?: Unknown

Accident Report

March 26, 2026, Margaret Rimmler, Patrick Haskell, and one other were killed and two were injured in a helicopter crash on Kaua’i.

Current reports say that the accident occurred during a tour flight around the island of Kaua’i. For reasons unknown at this time, the helicopter, carrying five people, including the pilot, crashed along the beach on the island. Due to this, 65-year-old Margaret Rimmler and 59-year-old Patrick Haskell, both from Massachusetts, were killed. A 40-year-old woman was also killed in the crash. Two others survived and were taken to the hospital. Their identities remain unconfirmed at this time.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

How Did This Accident Occur?

While certainly more complex than a typical car accident, investigating helicopter crashes involves asking a lot of similar questions. Was the helicopter in good condition? Was there a sudden mechanical failure due to a defect? Was the pilot qualified? Did the touring company have previous safety concerns? Was this all due to unexpected weather conditions? Did it involve a medical emergency?

Federal agencies will no doubt be looking to answer these questions, but my concern is those kinds of agencies aren’t often concerned with keep families in the loop. I’ve seen countless accidents where officials did all their work behind closed doors, leaving families in the dark for months or years unless they had independent professionals working to keep them informed. Hopefully the families affected by this have people like that in their corner.

Has anyone seen anything about this crash I may have missed? Share in the comments if you have.