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National Transportation Safety Board investigators continue to investigate the site of a weekend crash of a state police helicopter that killed four people.

Medevac helicopter Trooper 2 had been dispatched at about 11 p.m. Saturday to the scene of a traffic crash in Waldorf from its hangar at Andrews Air Force Base. The NTSB believes the helicopter crashed in Walker Mill Regional Park, located in unincorporated District Heights, between midnight and 12:30 a.m. Sunday, said Keith Holloway, an NTSB spokesman. The park is currently closed to the public.

SYSCOM, a statewide communications system, lost radio contact with the helicopter at 12:30 a.m. Sunday, and an area-wide search began. At about 2 a.m., a police officer found the crash site on a park trail near the intersection of Berry Lane and Walker Mill Road.

During a Monday afternoon press conference, NTSB spokeswoman Debbie Hersman said they have not yet determined what caused the crash and still have not ruled anything out. She said the crew will look at the pilot's flight schedule over the past 72 hours to see when he was awake or asleep to check for any signs of fatigue.

The deceased victims are identified as Stephen J. Bunker, 59, of Waldorf, the State Police pilot; Trooper 1st Class Mickey C. Lippy, 34, of Westminster, the State Police flight paramedic; Tanya Mallard, 39, of Waldorf, an EMT-B with the Waldorf Volunteer Rescue Squad; and Ashley J. Younger, 17, of Waldorf, who was a patient being transported, according to a state police news release. All were pronounced dead on the scene.

The surviving victim of the crash is identified as Jordan A. Wells, 18, of Waldorf. Wells is currently undergoing treatment at the Prince George's Hospital Center in Cheverly.

NTSB will also investigate Maryland State Police standard operating procedures for when a pilot cannot tell where the helicopter is positioned vertically. Prior to the accident Saturday evening, the helicopter pilot contacted the Andrews Air Force base communications tower and said he could not find the helicopter's distance from the ground, Holloway said. The helicopter was last recorded at being at 700 feet about 11:57 p.m. before losing contact with the tower.

Investigations show the helicopter struck a tree 80 feet above its base before coming to rest on its left side. Hersman said the trail of debris was 181 feet long. A NTSB crew recovered helicopter blades and was able to remove one engine for examination. Hersman said the crew will attempt to remove the second engine by the end of the day Monday. She said a "significant amount" of jet fuel was released following the crash.

Hersman said Bunker's log book was recovered from the scene, indicating his last nighttime flight was Sept. 16. The helicopter refueled the night before the accident and had taken no other trips that day prior to the accident. Hersman said three out of the 12 Maryland State Police helicopters are equipped with a Terrain Awareness Warning System that notifies pilots of any obstacles on the flight path and rising terrain and this one was not equipped. Helicopters are not mandated to have TAWS installed.

The aircraft was a Eurocopter Dauphin II twin jet engine helicopter, according to the news release. It became a part of the state police fleet in June 1989, and was the second helicopter purchased in the current fleet. The helicopter completed a 100-hour inspection Sept. 24.

Hersman said the NTSB has investigated eight fire and emergency medical service helicopter crashes over the past 12 months nationwide that resulted in 31 fatalities, including the crash in District Heights.

"We're very concerned about safety in this segment of the industry, and that's why we sent a whole team here," Hersman said. Six people from the NTSB are investigating the crash.

Lesley Goldsmith, a nearby resident, was scared the helicopter could have hit a house and was grateful no one was in the park when it crashed. She said she heard a boom when it went down but had no idea what the sound had actually come from.

Jessica Lee has lived in the neighborhood near the park for 11 years. She heard the commotion and went out to the crash site, along with 15 to 20 of her neighbors, at about 2 a.m. Sunday and said it was very chaotic. She said she was also scared the helicopter could have hit a house in the neighborhood.

"I usually go out and take the dog there. I'm not going back—it's too emotional," she said.

Hersman said she does not know exactly when the crew will wrap up collecting evidence and understands the community wants access restored to the park. Hersman said after NTSB leaves the area, control will be handed over to local authorities, who will determine when to reopen.