Pubdate: 14 Dec 1998 Source: Associated Press Copyright: 1998 Associated Press. ARMY SAYS BAHAMAS CRASH PILOT ERROR SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) An Army investigator said a pilot with a daredevil reputation was to blame for a helicopter crash in the Bahamas in July that killed his wife and another soldier's wife. However, the pilot's lawyer said a mechanical failure was to blame and his client did nothing dangerous. In a report obtained by the Savannah Morning News through a Freedom of Information Act request, the Army's investigator concluded that pilot error by Chief Warrant Officer Daniel P. Riddell was to blame for the crash. Riddell, Chief Warrant Officer David E. Guido and Sgt. William E. Westgate face a court-martial on involuntary manslaughter and other charges. Other soldiers said Riddell had the nickname "Air Show Dan" because he was known to fly low and do tricks to show off, the report stated. Riddell, who is stationed at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, was in the Bahamas to take part in an anti-drug program. He, Guido and Westgate took Guido's wife, Pam, and Riddell's wife, Rebecca, for a ride on their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The women were killed and the three men were seriously injured in the crash. Riddell's lawyer, Doug Andrews, said the Army investigator told only one side of the story. He said Riddell did not cooperate with the probe because it "was designed to gather evidence for the prosecution." "Mr. Riddell was an excellent pilot, as was Mr. Guido," he said. "They loved their wives deeply and they would not have done anything to endanger their lives." The report also raised questions about the Army's mission in the Bahamas, which supports Drug Enforcement Administration efforts in the Caribbean. It said the assignment had a "party atmosphere" and was known as a way for military families to take free vacations. - --- Checked-by: Mike Gogulski