The pilot of a helicopter who officials lost contact with over the weekend has been found after crashing near the southern boundary of Mammoth Cave National Park.
According to park officials, at approximately 4:00 Monday afternoon, Mammoth Cave law enforcement officers received information that a helicopter crash with a single fatality had been located inside the park.
The pilot, David Stone, 69, of Louisville, Tennessee, had been flying alone from St. Louis, Missouri, to Knoxville, Tennessee, on Saturday, before contact was lost with the aircraft.
Stone was found deceased at the scene, near Hwy 70 and Park Boundary Road.
“Park service officials were originally notified of the potential downed helicopter around 10:30 a.m. Monday,” officials said. “Information from the last location and eyewitnesses accounts placed the helicopter within close proximity to the park.”
Park staff assisted Glasgow/Barren County Emergency Management, Edmonson County Emergency Management and Kentucky State Police by searching park areas accessible by roads and trails. The crashed Jetexec helicopter was located in the late afternoon by a search helicopter, park officials said.
The cause of the crash is under investigation by the National Park Service and the National Transportation Safety Board.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
