Doomed medical helicopter had transported uncle of Du Quoin woman earlier in the day

The ARCH medical evacuation helicopter that crashed Friday night into the side of the out-patient clinic at St. Louis University Medical Center, killing the pilot, had earlier in the day transported the uncle of a Du Quoin woman, Marshall Browning Hospital staff member Sherry Wertz.

The transfer was not from a local hospital.

A prayer of thanksgiving was said at Bethel Lutheran Church in Du Quoin that the man had already arrived safely at SLU earlier Friday as well as prayers of sympathy for the family of the pilot.

Arch helicopters fly in and out of Southern Illinois all the time, making transfers from local hospitals to St. Louis. The company had not had an accident since service began in 1974. The local base of operations is Sparta.

The pilot of a medical helicopter died after crashing during a solo flight to St. Louis University Hospital to pick up a crew, authorities said.

Fire Capt. Garon Mosby said the helicopter went down west of the hospital just after 11 p.m. Friday. Mosby said the cause of the crash was not known, but that the helicopter had just left the ARCH Air Medical Services base.

The pilot of the Eurocopter EC-130 was identified Saturday as 52-year-old Ronald Scott Rector of Linn, Mo.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators were at the scene of the crash on Saturday morning. 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 Christina Brodsly said in a written statement that the company, which operates ARCH Air Medical Services, was 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, adding that the company would provide more information when it became available.