2ND MAN CHARGED IN PILOTS' DEATHS

UKIAH, Calif. -- Prosecutors charged a second man with murder Thursday in
the deaths of two firefighting pilots, accusing him of starting the blaze
while trying to manufacture methamphetamine.

Richard Mortensen, 43, faces two counts of murder, as well as other counts
for allegedly manufacturing drugs and causing the 270-acre brush fire the
two pilots were fighting when their planes collided.

A day earlier, prosecutors filed the same charges against Frank Brady, 50.

Brady was arrested near the brush fire Monday after officers pulled over a
sport utility vehicle driven by Mortensen. Sheriff's deputies initially
released Mortensen because he gave a false name. They arrested him later
that night on outstanding warrants for drug and weapons charges.

"Witnesses put them both at the scene prior to the fire," said District
Attorney Norm Vroman.

Investigators said they later found beakers and chemicals used to produce
methamphetamine near the pit where they believe the brush fire started.

Mortensen and Brady declined to be interviewed by The Associated Press.
Mortensen's arraignment is scheduled for Friday; Brady has not entered a
plea and has a hearing Sept. 5.

"He's being accused of a terrible thing," said Brady's lawyer, Richard
Petersen. "Everybody that's human would feel bad about it."

Investigators are examining whether the alleged drug lab may have been part
of a broader ring involving the Hells Angels motorcycle gang. Vroman said
Brady was the vice president of its Mendocino County chapter.

Pilots Larry Groff, 55, and Lars Stratte, 45, died after their air tankers
collided over the fire and crashed. Groff's plane was preparing to drop an
800-gallon load of fire retardant when it hit Stratte's loaded tanker,
which was circling.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.