Christopher Banks said Wednesday afternoon he was out in his yard on Greystone Drive when he caught glimpse of a helicopter.
Then suddenly, it crashed.
"I was working outside and saw a helicopter, then looked away," he said. "A few seconds later, I heard the rotors stop, and it fell. I called 9-1-1 right away."
Callaway County deputies were notified at 2:28 p.m. that a helicopter crashed, according to Sheriff Clay Chism. The helicopter went down east of Fulton in a remote area north of Bartley Lane, near the Potawatomi Campground.
Rescue helicopters, first responders and deputies responded immediately, but the location of the downed aircraft was not initially visible, Chism said.
An extensive search began with the assistance of the Fulton Police Department, Missouri Highway Patrol (troopers and helicopter), Missouri Department of Conservation, Central Callaway Fire Protection District, Callaway County EMS and the Staff for Life helicopter.
By 3:15 p.m., the crash site was located, and one deceased victim was found.
The victim was identified later Wednesday as Charles Prather, 47, of St. Peters; he was the sole occupant of the aircraft,
Federal investigators are expected to arrive in Callaway County today; the investigation will be transferred to their federal jurisdiction.