Relatives have identified one of two men killed in a helicopter crash during a hunting excursion in La Salle County Saturday morning.
Brian Faglie, of Uvalde, was flying his best friend's Robinson R-22 helicopter around 11:30 a.m. Saturday when he lost control of the aircraft and crashed into a ranch about 13 miles north of Cotulla, said his wife, Gay Faglie.
Authorities have not identified the second man who was killed in the crash.
The owner of the helicopter, William “Ross” Thompson, was out of town Saturday when he was asked to hunt hogs on the private ranch, so he asked Brian Faglie, 40, to do the job, Gay Faglie said.
“He was a jack of all trades; he could do anything for anybody, and was always helping others,” she said. “He died helping others.”
She said she still doesn't know who was with her husband in the aircraft, which was flying at low altitude. Officials first called the Thompsons, who then told Gay Faglie there had been an accident, she said.
Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.
“He was loved by everyone, and he never met a stranger,” Gay Faglie said of her husband. “I've never seen so many grown men cry as I saw come through my house after the accident.”
The couple had no children but raised six dogs together, she said.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA continue to investigate the crash, and it remains unclear what caused Faglie to lose control of the helicopter.
A licensed commercial pilot, Brian Faglie was frequently asked to fly aircraft for various jobs. He also worked for his father's company, Knippa-based Faglie Construction, his wife said.
Funeral Services will be March 9th, Tuesday at 1:00 pm
Location: Methodist Church-Uvalde
In lieu of flowers, Gay has requested that donations be made in Brian's memory to the Methodist Church of Uvalde's building fund and to the Humane Society of Uvalde.
Lady
with Austin Ganong, the son of a foster parent.
Be
there next year in Feb. 2010