George Marciniw, a veteran Southern California helicopter pilot and flight instructor, has died at the age of 70 after the NewsChopper4 helicopter he was piloting crashed in Chatsworth, Los Angeles.
Marciniw was killed alongside NBC4 and Telemundo 52 reporter Eliana Moreno when the helicopter went down on September 15, 2026, while the crew was providing aerial coverage of a deadly vehicle collision nearby.
The crash also claimed the life of a third person on the ground, later identified as 29-year-old Edy Gutierrez Mejia.
Marciniw’s death has prompted tributes from colleagues, fellow pilots and members of the Southern California aviation and news communities, where he had built a career spanning decades.
Who Was George Marciniw?
George Marciniw was a highly experienced Southern California helicopter pilot whose professional life was closely connected to aviation, flight instruction and aerial news coverage.
He grew up in Southern California and graduated from Burbank High School in 1974. His connection to the region continued throughout his aviation career, eventually making him a familiar figure among pilots and news professionals operating in the Los Angeles area.
Marciniw worked as a helicopter flight instructor for more than 30 years and accumulated approximately 14,000 flight hours.
His experience extended beyond television news. His aviation work included aerial filming, surveillance, flight instruction, helicopter management and other specialized helicopter operations.
George Marciniw Obituary Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | George Stephen Marciniw |
| Age | 70 |
| Born | May 16, 1956 |
| Died | September 15, 2026 |
| Place of death | Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California |
| Profession | Helicopter pilot and flight instructor |
| Known for | NewsChopper4 aerial news operations |
| Education | Burbank High School, Class of 1974 |
| Flight experience | More than 14,000 hours |
| Flight instruction experience | More than 30 years |
| News colleague | Eliana Moreno |
| Cause of death | Fatal helicopter crash |
| Cause of helicopter crash | Under investigation |
| Funeral arrangements | Not publicly announced |
George Marciniw and NewsChopper4
Marciniw became part of the aerial news operation serving Southern California viewers through NBC4 and Telemundo 52.
He frequently worked alongside reporter and aerial journalist Eliana Moreno, with the two beginning to fly together in 2023.
Their work placed them above some of the region’s most significant breaking-news scenes, including fires, police pursuits, traffic incidents and other major events.
For viewers, aerial news coverage can sometimes appear to be primarily about the images shown on television. Behind those images, however, are pilots responsible for safely positioning and operating the aircraft while journalists report from the air.
Marciniw’s decades of experience made him an important part of that operation.
Chatsworth Helicopter Crash
On the evening of September 15, Marciniw and Moreno were aboard an NBC4 helicopter covering a deadly crash involving a Metro bus and an SUV in Chatsworth.
The helicopter went down at approximately 7 p.m. in the 9100 block of Mason Avenue, between commercial buildings.
The aircraft caught fire after the crash, and emergency crews responded to the scene.
Marciniw and Moreno were killed in the helicopter crash. A third person on the ground, Edy Gutierrez Mejia, also died.
The helicopter crash occurred only a short distance from the earlier roadway collision the news crew had been covering.
Cause of George Marciniw’s Helicopter Crash
The cause of the helicopter crash has not been officially established.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident, along with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Investigators have been examining video and audio recorded aboard the helicopter before the crash, as well as the wreckage and other available evidence.
The recording reportedly contains sounds that investigators believe could help them understand what happened during the final moments of the flight.
Although some aviation observers have discussed the possibility of an engine or rotor-related problem, those theories should not be treated as the confirmed cause of the crash.
The investigation remains ongoing, and an official determination could take time.
A Veteran Pilot With 14,000 Hours in the Air
Marciniw’s aviation career was notable for its longevity.
He had accumulated more than 14,000 hours of helicopter flight time and had worked as a flight instructor for more than three decades.
His experience included teaching other pilots, giving him a role in developing the next generation of helicopter aviators.
He was also associated with Pacific Rotorways Helicopter Training and operated from Whiteman Airport in the Los Angeles area.
Fellow pilots have described him as an experienced professional with deep knowledge of Southern California aviation.
Marciniw’s Southern California Roots
Marciniw’s connection to Southern California went back to his childhood.
He grew up in the region and graduated from Burbank High School in 1974.
The same area where he began his life eventually became the setting for much of his professional aviation career.
Through decades of flying, he developed extensive familiarity with the skies and communities around Los Angeles.
His career allowed him to combine that regional knowledge with his experience as a helicopter pilot, instructor and aerial news professional.
George Marciniw and Eliana Moreno
Marciniw and Eliana Moreno had worked together for several years as part of Southern California’s aerial news operation.
Their professional partnership allowed them to cover breaking events from the air, with Moreno handling the reporting and Marciniw piloting the helicopter.
Their deaths have therefore been felt particularly strongly within the NBC4 and Telemundo 52 communities.
Colleagues and fellow aviation professionals have also shared memories of the pair following the crash.
The tragedy ended a professional partnership that had become familiar to viewers across Southern California.
Tributes From the Aviation Community
Following the crash, tributes emerged at Whiteman Airport and elsewhere from people who knew Marciniw through aviation.
His longtime career meant he had crossed paths with numerous pilots, instructors and aviation professionals.
One fellow pilot described knowing Marciniw since the 1990s and having him serve as an instructor.
Other memories have focused on his experience, professionalism and connection to the Southern California aviation community.
For those who worked alongside him, his death represents not simply the loss of a pilot but the loss of a longtime colleague and friend.
George Marciniw’s Legacy
Marciniw’s professional legacy is closely connected to the thousands of hours he spent in helicopters and the people he trained and worked with.
His career covered several areas of aviation, including flight instruction, aerial filming, surveillance and news operations.
His work also brought him into contact with audiences who may never have known his name but regularly saw the aerial images he helped make possible.
For fellow pilots, however, his legacy extends beyond television coverage.
The pilots he instructed and the colleagues who worked with him will carry their own memories of his experience and influence.
George Marciniw Cause of Death and Funeral Information
George Marciniw died as a result of the September 15 helicopter crash in Chatsworth.
The specific cause of the aircraft accident has not yet been determined.
His exact funeral, memorial or visitation arrangements have not been publicly announced in the information currently available.
As the NTSB and FAA continue investigating the crash, additional information may emerge about the circumstances surrounding the accident and arrangements to honor Marciniw’s life.
Remembering George Marciniw
George Marciniw spent more than three decades building a career in helicopter aviation.
With approximately 14,000 flight hours and extensive experience as both a pilot and instructor, he became a respected member of the Southern California aviation community.
His work with aerial news crews also connected him to the world of broadcast journalism, where he helped provide viewers with a perspective from above during some of the region’s most important breaking stories.
His death in the Chatsworth helicopter crash has left family, friends, fellow pilots, journalists and others mourning a veteran aviation professional whose career was defined by years in the air.
For those who knew George Marciniw personally, his memory will remain connected not only to the tragic circumstances of his final flight, but also to the decades of experience, instruction, friendship and service that came before it.
Disclaimer
This obituary is based on current reporting concerning the death of George Marciniw in the September 15, 2026, NewsChopper4 helicopter crash in Chatsworth, Los Angeles. His age and professional background have been reported by multiple sources, while the exact cause of the helicopter crash remains under investigation. Any theories concerning mechanical failure, pilot error, weather or other contributing factors should not be treated as confirmed unless established by investigators. Funeral and memorial arrangements may be updated if officially announced.