Tragedy at Huntersville

 

 

THE SALT SHAKER PRESS

Local News • Special Report

TRAGEDY AT THE BACKBONE: Recent Helicopter Downed Near Huntersville Highlights History of Danger on Route 39

HUNTERSVILLE, W.Va. — The towering sandstone arch of the "Devil’s Backbone" has stood for millions of years as a majestic reminder of nature’s raw power. But to those who navigate the winding asphalt of Route 39 and the airspace above it, this geological marvel just southeast of Huntersville remains a backdrop for sudden and profound tragedy.

The dangerous nature of this deep, isolated mountain corridor was thrown back into the spotlight following a fatal helicopter crash that claimed the life of a veteran pilot.

Fatal Aircraft Crash Shakes Huntersville Community

Federal and state authorities continue to investigate the wreckage of a privately owned Sikorsky S-76D helicopter that plummeted into a wooded area near 6755 Huntersville Road—just a stone’s throw from the iconic Devil’s Backbone anticline.

According to the West Virginia State Police and Emergency Management officials, the twin-engine aircraft, owned by Waco Oil & Gas Co., Inc., lost signal after circling a densely forested ridge. The pilot, 57-year-old Leo Basile of Arthurdale, West Virginia, was the sole occupant and was pronounced dead at the scene. Basile had been flying into the area for a weekend gathering at a nearby private property when the aircraft went down.

As the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) works to determine the mechanical or atmospheric cause of the crash, locals are once again reflecting on how quickly this beautiful stretch of Pocahontas County can turn perilous.

The Ghost of Knapps Creek: Remembering Trooper Douglas Bland

For long-time residents, any siren echoing past the Devil’s Backbone evokes memories of another dark winter night decades ago. The tight, unforgiving curves where the highway hugs the rock face and Knapps Creek have a long history of claiming travelers.

On the night of January 18, 1999, West Virginia State Senior Trooper Douglas Wayne Bland was rushing down Route 39, responding to an emergency call regarding an automobile accident further down the road. Amidst the freezing dark, Bland’s cruiser lost traction, veering off the narrow roadway and overturning directly into the icy waters of Knapps Creek, right along the shadow of the Backbone.

A civilian employee from the Pocahontas County Sheriff's Department discovered the overturned cruiser hours later. Trooper Bland, a dedicated three-year veteran of the force, succumbed to his injuries early the next morning, leaving behind a wife and child. Today, his sacrifice remains a sobering reminder to local emergency crews of the stakes involved when traversing Route 39 under pressure.

A Beautifully Deceptive Landscape

Geologists note that the Devil's Backbone is an ancient fold of Tuscarora Sandstone, bent upward like a wave when continents collided 250 million years ago. While it draws hundreds of tourists, photographers, and motorcyclists every year, the geography it creates is uniquely hazardous. The steep gorge forces Route 39 into tight switchbacks, blind curves, and rapid elevation shifts that offer zero shoulder for error.

Whether it is a pilot navigating the unpredictable mountain drafts above the ridge or a first responder battling a slick winter road below it, the area within a mile of the Devil's Backbone demands absolute vigilance.

As the community mourns the loss of Leo Basile, the ancient rock formation continues to watch over a highway that carries both immense beauty and enduring risk

Note: This is an AI product of the Salt Shaker Press