Marine Corps Identifies Pilots Killed In AH-1Z Viper Helicopter Crash

April 1, 2019 7:51 PM
Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper aircraft assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) arrive in support of Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 2-19 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., on March 19, 2019. US Marine Corps Photo

The Marine Corps has identified two Marines who died in a Saturday evening crash of an AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter near Yuma, Ariz.

The two pilots were: Maj. Matthew M. Wiegand, 34, of Ambler, Penn., assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons & Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) and Capt. Travis W. Brannon, 30, of Nashville, Tenn., assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 367, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

“It is a somber day for the entire Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command (MAGTFTC) as we mourn this tremendous loss. Our thoughts and prayers remain with their families and loved ones during this extremely difficult time,” Brig. Gen. Roger B. Turner Jr., commanding general of MAGTFTC at Twentynine Palms, Calif., said in a statement.

The crash is still under investigation.

Wiegand and Brannon were conducting a routine training mission as part of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 2-19, according to a post on the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma Facebook page.

The seven-week training involves 30 squadrons from across the Marine Corps, more than 100 aircraft and 5,000 Marines and sailors. The course includes three weeks of academics, four weeks of flight training and one Instructor pilots fly week, which just started over the weekend, according to a post on MAWTS-1 Facebook page.

“We join the families of Maj. Wiegand and Capt. Brannon in mourning the loss of a loved one,” Col. Kelvin W. Gallman, the commanding officer of MAWTS-1 said in a statement. “Our most valued assets are the individual Marines and our primary focus is supporting the families during this difficult time.”

MAWTS-1 oversees the “semi-annual Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course, top aviators from around the fleet not only trained to high-end warfighting scenarios but also help advance tactics to keep up with real-world developments and conduct experiments with emerging technologies that could give Marines in the air and on the ground an edge on the battlefield,” USNI News reported during a visit to the command in 2016.

The following is the full statement released by the Marine Corps.

Marines identified in AH-1Z Helicopter Crash

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. (April 1, 2019) – Two Marine pilots conducting routine training during the semi-annual Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) were killed as a result of an AH-1Z Viper helicopter crash aboard MCAS Yuma training grounds, at approximately 8:45 p.m. (PST), March 30, 2019.

“It is a somber day for the entire Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command (MAGTFTC) as we mourn this tremendous loss. Our thoughts and prayers remain with their families and loved ones during this extremely difficult time,” said Brig. Gen. Roger B. Turner Jr., commanding general, MAGTFTC, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Maj. Matthew M. Wiegand, 34, of Ambler, Pennsylvania, was a pilot assigned to MAWTS-1, Yuma, Arizona. Wiegand joined the Marine Corps in 2008. He held qualifications in the AH-1W Super Cobra and AH-1Z Viper.

Wiegand’s previous duty stations include Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., and MCAS Yuma, Ariz.

Wiegand previously deployed in support of a Unit Deployment Program in Okinawa, Japan. He participated in numerous bi-lateral exercises with Joint and Foreign partners. His personal decorations included the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star in lieu of second award.

Capt. Travis W. Brannon, 30, of Nashville, Tennessee, was a pilot assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 367, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing,
Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Brannon was attending Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 2- 19.

Brannon’s previous duty stations include Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., and MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

Brannon participated in Marine Rotational Force Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. His personal decorations include the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

“We join the families of Maj. Wiegand and Capt. Brannon in mourning the loss of a loved one,” said Col. Kelvin W. Gallman, commanding officer of MAWTS-1. “Our most valued assets are the individual Marines and our primary focus is supporting the families during this difficult time.”

The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.

Ben Werner

Ben Werner

Ben Werner is a staff writer for USNI News. He has worked as a freelance writer in Busan, South Korea, and as a staff writer covering education and publicly traded companies for The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Va., The State newspaper in Columbia, S.C., Savannah Morning News in Savannah, Ga., and Baltimore Business Journal. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree from New York University.

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