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Federal investigators have concluded a 2009 helicopter crash along Interstate 70 that killed four people was an accident.

The 2000 Robinson R44 helicopter piloted by Jeffrey D. Nordaas, 24, of Columbia, crashed July 23, 2009, while en route to Frederick Municipal Airport from Hagerstown Regional Airport when it struck a stabilization wire for power lines along Interstate 70, near Boonsboro in Washington County.

Nordaas, Niall R.Y. Booth, 43, of New Market, George H. Tutor, 39, of Westminster, and Kim R. Felix, 48, of New Market were all killed in the crash.

The report by the National Transportation Safety Board released July 26 — three days after the one-year anniversary of the crash — states poor visibility led to the crash. All on board, except for Felix, were employed by Advanced Helicopter Concepts, a Frederick-based helicopter flight-training company. Felix was a guest.

The report states the helicopter crash unfolded in the following manner:

The pilot was twice offered car rides home before deciding to fly in bad weather.

At about 9 p.m., Nordaas called an employee of Advanced Helicopter Concepts to check the weather conditions for the return flight to Frederick Municipal Airport, the report reads. The employee told Nordaas weather conditions were "miserable," and offered to drive his car to pick up the helicopter party.

Nordaas said he preferred to wait until the weather cleared.

Nordaas called back between 10 and 10:15 p.m., again asking about weather conditions. The employee said the rain had stopped, but there was still fog, wind and lightning. He again offered to drive, but Nordaas said he would wait until conditions improved before flying.

The helicopter is estimated to have left Hagerstown Regional Airport at about 10:15 p.m., after the air traffic control tower closed. Nordaas had not filed a flight plan, and there were no known communications with the helicopter, which left after the airport's control tower closed at 10 p.m..

A motorist saw the helicopter fly into "low clouds," and turn back to the west before it struck the stabilization wires.

A call to Advanced Helicopter Concepts was not immediately returned.

The investigation revealed no mechanical failure in the helicopter, nor was Nordaas under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Nordaas was fully trained and qualified to operate the helicopter, and he held a flight instructor certificate, with ratings for rotorcraft and instrument helicopter, and a commercial pilot certificate, with ratings for airplane single-engine land, rotorcraft, instrument airplane, and instrument helicopter, according to the report.

He had logged about 70 hours of flight time during the 30 days prior to the accident. Nordaas had about 25 hours of night flight experience, which included about 12 hours at night in helicopters, according to the report.

The Federal Aviation Administration requires three hours of night flight training for a helicopter pilot certification, according to its website.

The four killed in the crash were returning home from an event in Hagerstown, where they were participating with the Hagerstown Business Association's efforts to raise money and awareness for teens with emotional and substance-abuse problems. The company's charitable arm, Advanced Helicopter Youth Foundation, was offering helicopter rides that day.

E-mail Christian Brown at chbrown@gazette.net.