Pilot who died in helicopter crash based in Warrenton
Posted 12/3/15
By Tim Schmidt Record Managing Editor The pilot of a medical helicopter who died in a fiery crash in downtown St. Louis Friday night was based in Warrenton. Ronald Scott Rector, 52, of Linn, was …
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Pilot who died in helicopter crash based in Warrenton
Posted
By Tim SchmidtRecord Managing EditorThe pilot of a medical helicopter who died in a fiery crash in downtown St. Louis Friday night was based in Warrenton.Ronald Scott Rector, 52, of Linn, was identified as the pilot. He was the only person aboard the Eurocopter EC-130 when it went down around 11:13 p.m. just west of St. Louis University Hospital.The helicopter had just left the ARCH Air Medical Services base, located at 2207 Scott Ave., near Highway 40 and Jefferson Avenue, and was returning to the hospital to pick up a crew, officials said.The cause of the crash is not known. ARCH transports critically ill and injured patients from accident scenes and hospitals.Rector began working for ARCH in October 2013 out of the Warrenton base, according to his LinkedIn profile. He was previously a pilot for Blue Hawaiian Helicopters in Hawaii and a pilot and instructor for the U.S. Army. For 11 months between September 2009 and July 2010, he was director of the Army’s Consolidated Personnel Recovery Center in Kabul, Afghanistan.He served for 32 years in U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force.The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory said in an email that the investigation would continue for several months. She said the NTSB would post a preliminary report in a few days, to be followed by a factual report and a finding of probable cause in a few months.Air Methods spokeswoman Christian Brodsly said in a written statement that the company, which operates ARCH Air Medical Services, is cooperating with investigators.“We are deeply saddened by the news that our sole occupant, our pilot, was fatally injured, and our hearts go out to the pilot’s family,” said Brodsly, added that the company would provide more information when it becomes available.The hospital remained open during the crash investigation.“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the pilot,” said hospital spokeswoman Laura Keller in an emailed statement.Rector is survived by wife, Jody; and two children, Roxanne Alden and Ryan Rector.Morton Chapel in Linn is handing funeral arrangements. Visitation will be held from 8 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, at the funeral home. A funeral service will follow at St. George Catholic Church in Linn.Visit the GoFundMe Ronald Scott Rector Memorial Fund page here: gofundme.com/ob7zo4The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Firefighters hose down smoldering wreckage from a helicopter crash at St. Louis University Hospital on Friday, March 6, 2015. Photo By David Carson. St. Louis Post Dispatch.
