[BC] West Virginia public broadcasting tower hit -- small plane crash

[Blaine Thompson]

Small plane crash near Morgantown, W.Va., kills at least one
By Chris Togneri
Published: Friday, June 22, 2012, 12:44 p.m.

At least one person died this morning when a small plane crashed into a radio tower in northern West Virginia, authorities said.

A Monongalia County Sheriff's Office official confirmed that one person died in the crash near the Sand Springs campground area in Coopers Rock State Forest.

The medical examiner is on scene, the Federal Aviation Agency has been notified and investigators are en route.

Jim Peters of the Federal Aviation Administration said the plane was a Hawker Beechcraft BE90. It crashed 7.5 miles east of Morgantown at 10:47 a.m.

Peters said it's unknown how many people were on board.

Bill Acker, broadcasting director for West Virginia Public Broadcasting, said the plane hit one of its radio/television towers. The tower is 500 feet high and only appears to have damage on the television antenna at the top. Debris from the plan damaged a nearby equipment building, but none of the equipment inside, he said.

"The best information I can get from my technicians at this point is that the damage seems to be contained to the TV antenna at the top," he said. "All other systems seem to functioning normally."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Tribune-Review Staff reporter Chris Togneri can be reached via e-mail <ctogneri at tribweb.com> or at 412-380-5632