Medical helicopter crashes in St. Louis, pilot dies

ST. LOUIS -- The pilot of a medical helicopter has died after crashing during a solo flight to St. Louis University Hospital to pick up a crew, authorities said.

Fire Capt. Garon Mosby said the helicopter went down west of the hospital just after 11 p.m. Friday. Mosby said the cause of the crash was not known, but that the helicopter had just left the ARCH Air Medical Services base.

The pilot of the Eurocopter EC-130 was identified Saturday as 52-year-old Ronald Scott Rector of Linn, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory said in an email the investigation would continue for several months.

She said the NTSB would post a preliminary report in a few days, to be followed by a factual report and a finding of probable cause in a few months.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators were at the scene of the crash on Saturday morning.

Air Methods spokeswoman Christina Brodsly said in a written statement the company, which operates ARCH Air Medical Services, was cooperating with investigators.

"We are deeply saddened by the news that our sole occupant, our pilot was fatally injured, and our hearts go out to the pilot's family," said Brodsly, adding that the company would provide more information when it became available.

The hospital remained open amid the crash investigation.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the pilot," said hospital spokeswoman Laura Keller in an emailed statement.