Leo Basile, 57, of Arthurdale, West Virginia, has been identified as the pilot who died after a helicopter crash in Pocahontas County Friday morning.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"