Investigation Underway Into Fatal Helicopter Crash (NPS Digest)

Investigation Underway Into Fatal Helicopter Crash (NPS Digest)
The National Transportation Safety Board released additional details yesterday about the Las Vegas tour helicopter crash in the park that killed five. The agency described the wreckage as having been consumed by fire. The few remaining intact parts included the main and tail rotors. NPS rangers, wildland firefighters and special agents were involved in yesterday's operations, providing support to NTSB, FAA and Clark County Coroner investigators. The terrain required the use of NPS four-wheel drive utility vehicles to get investigators within a few hundred yards of the crash site; from there they were required to hike in. The remains of the five crash victims were recovered by the coroner’s office and transported by park utility vehicle and park ambulance out of the area. The Clark County coroner said that positive identification will most likely have to be made through DNA testing. To protect the site, Superintendent Bill Dickinson issued a temporary closure order for a two-mile radius surrounding the crash site. Today, the park will continue its incident command operations in support of the NTSB investigation with helicopter and additional law enforcement support from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.