MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Authorities released the name of the pilot who was killed when a small airplane crashed in northern West Virginia.

Media outlets reported that the West Virginia Medical Examiner's Office identified the pilot as 63-year-old Richard Lee Lambert of Columbus, Ohio.

Investigators said the pilot contacted the Morgantown Municipal Airport before the Hawker Beechcraft BE90 hit two communications towers near Coopers Rock State Forest and crashed on June 22. The pilot had just dropped off passengers at a western Pennsylvania resort.

Todd Gunther with the National Transportation Safety Board said air traffic control established radar contact with the plane but it was lost moments later.

The investigation of the crash is continuing.