Former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist David Sherwood Pitkin died in the crash of a small plane on January 27, 2010 while performing an aerial survey of migratory waterfowl near Corvallis, Oregon. At the time Pitkin was working under contract to the USFWS. In 1992 Dave began work with the USFWS as a volunteer at the Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge before becoming a biological technician. In 1999 he was promoted to the position of wildlife biologist at the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex. He left the service in 2007, but continued to volunteer and do contract work for the Service until his death.
A plaque dedicated to Pitkin was placed at the Coquille Point Unit of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Bandon Oregon.