Pilot airlifted after helicopter crash near Larkspur, cause unknown

A 65-year-old pilot was airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries after an ultralight helicopter crashed in the Perry Park area south of Larkspur. The cause remains unknown, and the pilot’s name has not been released.

Douglas County deputies responded to multiple reports of a downed aircraft Monday morning, July 13, 2026, at about 8 a.m. near Inca Road, Crow Drive and Cheyenne Drive. The Larkspur Fire Protection District said the pilot had already exited the helicopter before firefighters arrived, and crews then worked to secure the scene in a residential neighborhood south of the Perry Park Country Club.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has contacted the National Transportation Safety Board, which will investigate the crash. Authorities have not said what caused the helicopter to go down or whether any mechanical failure, weather issue or other factor played a role.

The crash brought a heavy emergency response into an area that sits under Stage 2 fire restrictions in unincorporated Douglas County, including Larkspur. That added another layer of concern for responders working in dry conditions where any spark or fire could have threatened nearby homes and open space.

The helicopter crash added to a morning of uncertainty for residents who saw fire crews, deputies and other emergency vehicles moving through the Perry Park area. With the pilot’s identity still withheld and the investigation now in the hands of federal safety officials, Douglas County officials have only said that the cause is still unknown.