Wreckage being removed from Fulton crash site

Crews on Thursday took some wreckage of a helicopter that crashed in a Callaway County field from the crash site near Fulton.

Callaway County Sheriff Clay Chism said federal authorities will move the wreckage to a secure facility where they can continue the investigation.

The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA are investigating the cause of the helicopter crash, which Wednesday. One man was killed in the Wednesday afternoon crash. The Callaway County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as Charles Prather, 47, of St. Peters. Authorities said Prather was the only person on board at the time of the crash.

Deputies found the helicopter at 3:15 p.m. in a remote area near Potawatomi Offroad Park, off Bartley Lane outside of Fulton.

Six federal investigators were at the scene Thursday.

Several witnesses told deputies on Wednesday that they saw the helicopter in distress and watched it go down.

“The rotor stopped moving, then it tipped and fell,” Christopher Banks said. Banks said the helicopter fell about a mile from his home.