Osage County pilot dies in St. Louis helicopter crash

A mid-Missouri pilot died in a helicopter crash Friday night near a St. Louis hospital.

St. Louis Fire Department Captain Garon Mosby told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch 52-year-old Ronald Rector died when his helicopter crashed just west of St. Louis University Hospital Friday night. Rector, from Osage County, flew a helicopter for ARCH Air Medical Services, a company providing air ambulance for critically injured patients.

A member of Rector’s family told an ABC 17 News reporter funeral arrangements had not yet been made.

Rector was the only passenger in the helicopter when it crashed, en route to the hospital to pick up a medical crew. The National Transportation Safety Board is the lead investigative agency on the crash. Terry Williams, a member of the NTSB, did not immediately return a phone call to ABC 17 News Saturday night.

Rector served as a pilot in the U.S. Army.