The State - News from June 11, 1989

A helicopter crashed on the Interstate 15 freeway in northern San Diego County, killing both men aboard the craft, authorities said. The crash on the main route between Southern California and Las Vegas occurred near the rural community of Rainbow, just south of the Riverside County line. The pilot, identified as Patrick Mowry, 31, of Valley Center had only 18 hours’ flight time in a helicopter and was supposed to have been flying solo as part of his qualifying for a helicopter pilot’s license, according to the San Diego County coroner’s office. Instead, Mowry had taken a friend with him, identified as Michael Powell, 32, of Pauma Valley. According to a California Highway Patrol spokeswoman, the helicopter “hit some power lines and then crashed on the center divider.” Traffic on I-15 was reported backed up for miles.