UPDATE (4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 24): Route 17 in Logan County is now reopened after a tragic helicopter crash that killed 6 people.
The helicopter, a locally-owned Bell UH-1B helicopter, crashed onto Route 17, also known as Blair Mountain Road, on Wednesday just before 5 p.m. about 3.7 miles northeast of the Logan County Airport.
A team of National Transportation Safety Board aviation safety investigators is in Logan County to investigate the crash.
The NTSB says they will not be releasing the identities and have deferred to the West Virginia State Police to decide when the victims will be publicly identified. At this time, the WVSP says they are waiting for positive identification of the victims from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
UPDATE (6:25 p.m. on Thursday, June 23): A team of National Transportation Safety Board aviation safety investigators is in Logan County to investigate the deadly crash of the Bell UH-1B helicopter.
The NTSB is also looking for anyone who witnessed the accident or has information that could help them in their investigation to email them at witness@ntsb.gov or call 202-314-6100.
The Huey crashed at approximately 4:57 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, killing all six people on board.
According to the NTSB, while the victims have not been identified, those on board consisted of a pilot, three passengers and two pilot-rated passengers.
The NTSB confirmed the flight was associated with the annual Huey Reunion event, which offers helicopter rides from organizer MARPAT Aviation. Investigators say the flight that crashed was the last flight planned for that day and had a different route from the tour paths that had been flown previously on Wednesday.
Investigators say much of the wreckage was consumed by a fire that broke out after the crash.
The NTSB says investigators will be spending the next several days documenting the accident site, the helicopter and “any perishable evidence” that could be relevant to the investigation. The NTSB also says the helicopter was not equipped with, and was not required to be equipped with, a cockpit voice recorder or a flight data recorder.
According to the NTSB, the helicopter will be recovered from the site on Friday and taken to a secure location in Atlanta to be further examined. They say they expect the work on the scene will be complete within five to seven days.
According to investigators, the helicopter crashed on rural Route 17, also known as Blair Mountain Highway, about 3.7 miles northeast of the Logan County airport where it took off. Lynn Spencer, NTSB Air Safety Investigator, said in a brief press conference that the helicopter had been in the air for about 15 minutes before it crashed.
UPDATE (3:12 p.m. on Thursday, June 23): NTSB investigators are expected to arrive at the crash site at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday.
An update is expected before 6:00 p.m.
UPDATE (11:12 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22): 13 News talked to witnesses and officials on the scene about the tragic helicopter crash that happened Wednesday afternoon that killed six people.
Bobbi Childs says she lives just up the road from where this happened. She says she started to see smoke and flames from what she thought was a crash on Blair Mountain Highway or Route 17.
Once she got closer, she saw the heartbreaking scene.
I saw that there was a guy trapped, I guess the captain. I tried to get down to the door where he was at. You could see him plain as day. I tried to get to him, but the fire was too hot. I couldn’t get to him.
Bobbi Childs, Witness
The captain and five others were in the Bell UH-1B helicopter when it crashed.
Logan County Ambulance Authority Chief of Operations Ray Bryant says there’s no word yet on what caused this. He says the aircraft is from this region.
The cockpit of the aircraft is burned up. The tail boom is laying across the road. It is recognizable, we knew it was a local helicopter. It was recognizable as soon as we got on scene.
Ray Bryant, Logan County Ambulance Authority Chief of Operations
While they are still assessing the situation, the entrance at the corner near Kelly Hollow Road will remain blocked off.
Officials are urging drivers to avoid the area altogether while they continue their work.
The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to be in the area on Thursday to investigate.
UPDATE (8:27 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22): According to Ray Bryant, Logan Ambulance Authority Chief of Operations, all six people who were aboard the Bell UH-1B helicopter died when it crashed.
The Logan County Commission would like to offer their deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims of this terrible tragedy. Our prayers are with them.
Diana Barnette, Logan County Commissioner
UPDATE (6:33 p.m. on June 22): According to the Federal Aviation Administration, six people were on board a Bell UH-1B helicopter that crashed near Route 17 in Logan County. Their conditions are not known at this time.
Route 17 is also known as Blair Mountain Highway, which is located on Kelly Mountain.
UPDATE (5:50 p.m. on June 22): The Federal Aviation Administration says a Bell UH-1B helicopter crashed around 5 p.m. this evening, June 22, 2022, near Route 17 in Logan County.
FAA officials say it is not known at this time how many people were on board the helicopter. The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA will investigate the cause of the crash and provide updates as available.
LOGAN COUNTY, WV (WOWK) — A helicopter crash has been reported at the top of Kelly Mountain in Logan County.
Sheriff Paul Clemens confirms that two department units are on the scene with more headed that way.
13 News is working to get more information about the crash.
This is a developing story.
