UPDATE: WASHINGTON CO., Va. – After three days of continuous searching, the pilot from Friday night's helicopter crash was recovered from South Holston Lake Monday afternoon (Aug. 27, 2012). Using a side-scan sonar, the Virginia State Police Search and Recovery Team (SRT) located the pilot's body in approximately 80 feet of water about 100 yards from the wreckage of the helicopter. Shortly after 3 p.m., his body was recovered from the water and is being transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Roanoke for examination and autopsy.
The pilot, Bill R. Starnes, 64, of Blountville, Tenn., was the only one onboard the Bell 407 helicopter Friday night (Aug. 24, 2012) when it crashed into the lake. The helicopter, owned and operated by Food City, had been ferrying passengers from the Bristol Motor Speedway to a private residence bordering South Holston Lake on the Washington County, Va., side. The helicopter had just dropped off six passengers and taken off when the crash occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m.
Virginia State Police SRT divers responded to the scene Friday night and remained at the scene conducting comprehensive search patterns of the lake throughout the weekend with the assistance of the Sullivan County, Tenn., Sheriff's Office dive team.
The helicopter broke apart upon impact with the water and is completely submerged. The retrieval process of the wreckage is currently underway. The depths of the lake vary from 25 feet to more than 80 feet in different areas around the wreckage.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are on scene investigating the crash, as well.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation at this time.
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UPDATE: ABINGDON -- Crews continued their search Monday for a helicopter pilot missing in Washington County, Va.
Virginia State Police divers as well as FAA investigators were at the crash site at South Holston Lake where the helicopter owned by Food City crashed late Friday night.
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NEWS RELEASE FROM THE VIRGINIA STATE POLICE:
Virginia State Police Search & Recovery Team divers with the assistance of the Sullivan County, Tenn. County Sheriff's Office dive team have spent the day searching the waters of South Holston Lake on the Washington County, Va., side for the pilot of the helicopter that crashed late Friday night (August 24, 2012). The divers will continue their search and recovery efforts through the evening.
At approximately 10:30 p.m. Friday, a Bell 407 helicopter, owned by Food City, crashed into the lake shortly after takeoff from a nearby residential property. The helicopter had been ferrying passengers from the Bristol Motor Speedway to the residence. The helicopter had just dropped off six passengers and taken off when the crash occurred. Only the pilot, who is male and an East Tennessee resident, was onboard at the time of the crash.
Virginia State Police Search and Recovery Team (SRT) dive members spent much of Friday night searching the wreckage for the pilot. This morning, the SRT brought to the scene a side-scan sonar to use for the search for the pilot.
The helicopter did break apart upon impact with the water, with the bulk of the aircraft still submerged in the water. The depths of the water at the crash site ranges from approximately 25 to 40 feet.
The FAA responded to the scene Saturday morning to conduct its investigation.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Corinne N. Geller
Public Relations Director
Virginia State Police
