Authorities: 1 dead after plane strikes radio tower in West Virginia

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Authorities say one person is dead after a plane struck a radio tower in Coopers Rock State Forest and crashed.

Monongalia County Sheriff Al Kisner confirmed the fatality. He couldn't say whether anyone else was on board.

Jim Peters of the Federal Aviation Administration says the plane was a Hawker Beechcraft BE90 but wouldn't provide ownership information.

It crashed 7.5 miles east of Morgantown around 10 a.m. Friday. The FAA was notified about 45 minutes later.

West Virginia Public Broadcasting says one of its radio towers was hit.

Broadcasting director Bill Acker says a technician tells him the antenna at the top is gone.

That could disrupt public television service in the Morgantown area. Acker says it's too soon to tell if there's more damage or other services are affected.