Leo Basile, 57, of Arthurdale, West Virginia, has been identified as the pilot who died after a helicopter crash in Pocahontas County Friday morning.
The helicopter, a Sikorsky S-76, was owned by Waco Oil & Gas, a Gilmer County-based company, according to company officials. The aircraft crashed near Huntersville in Pocahontas County around 7:47 a.m. Friday.
The Pocahontas County 911 Center confirmed that a helicopter went down near Huntersville, and the Federal Aviation Administration reported that only the pilot was aboard at the time of the crash.
A Pocahontas County representative identified Basile as the pilot, and officials confirmed he was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin has been notified.
The crash occurred in the Huntersville District near 6755 Huntersville Road in Marlinton, an area where Waco Oil & Gas owns multiple properties, according to public records.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the cause of the crash. The NTSB said investigators will document the wreckage before it is moved to a secure location for further examination.
Family, friends, and the community are mourning the loss of Leo Basile and remembering his life after the tragic helicopter crash. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident remains ongoing.
