More detail on this person: Phillip Layne
Rutledge was killed last Friday in the crash of
his Ag helicopter near Bakersfield California. His
obituary says he served in Vietnam as a helicopter
pilot with the 101st Airborne in 1971-72. This information was last updated 05/18/2016
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site:
04/13/2025
Copyright © 1998 - 2025 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
From: "James O. McLaughlin"
NTSB extract; Phillip Layne Rutledge (CWO Army
Aviator and Vietnam Veteran) age 54 Harvest
Enterprises resident Bakersfield, CA
Killed in Bell 47G4 during pesticide application
flight in the mid morning with good weather when
shortly after departing a truck platform the
aircraft lost control due to unknown cause in an
application turn, nosed over, and crashed into
flat terrain complicated by post crash fire near
Porterville, CA. He died 13 Jun 2003.
Obituary for Phillip Layne Rutledge, November 21,
1948 - June 13, 2003
Visitation for Phillip Layne Rutledge will be held
at Basham Funeral Care, 3312 Niles St., on
Wednesday, June 18, 2003 from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
and funeral services will be held at the River
Lakes Community Church at 10:00 a.m. on
Thursday, June 19, 2003.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and
Marie Rutledge; and he is survived by his loving
wife of 32 years, Diane Rutledge; daughter and
son-in-law, Elisabeth and Scott Davis; son Matthew
Rutledge; brother and sister-in-law, John and
Betty Rutledge; brother and sister-in-law Sue and
Rob Wykoff; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Phillip was born and raised in Bakersfield and
attended South High School and Bakersfield
College. He was the owner-operator of Rutledge Ag
Air Crop Dusting for 4 years, and had been a crop
duster for 15 years. Phil served in the 101st
Airborne Division of the U.S. Army, he was a
decorated helicopter pilot, he was a Vietnam
veteran 1971-72; a member of the D.E.R.O.S.
Veteran's Group of Kern Christian Center; he loved
his Lord, his family, his country and his
breakfast club buddies. He was a true patriot. He
loved a good story and was a master joke teller.
He loved to laugh; and he eagerly anticipated the
November arrival of his first grandchild. He will
be deeply missed by all who knew him.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations
be made to the River Lakes Community Church
Building Fund or the American Cancer Society. For
additional service information please contact
Basham Funeral Care, 3312 Niles Street,
Bakersfield (661) 873-8200.