Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration were in Fulton early Thursday to investigate a helicopter crash that killed one person.
When they arrived, the investigation was turned over to those officials, although Callaway County Sheriff Clay Chism said his office is available to assist investigators.
St. Peters resident Charles Prather, 47, was the sole occupant of a helicopter that suddenly went down about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon off Bartley Road just east of Fulton. The wreckage was hard to find in this remote area, but was discovered about 3:15 p.m. near county roads 108 and 101, near Potawatomi Campground and an off-road vehicle area.
The search was conducted by deputies with the Callaway County Sheriff’s Office with help from multiple agencies including Fulton police, the Missouri Highway Patrol, the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Central Callaway Fire Protection District, the Callaway County Ambulance District and a Staff for Life helicopter from MU Health.