A dead goose was found in part of the flight control system of a medical helicopter that crashed in western Oklahoma, killing all three people on board, according to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
While it highlights the goose’s presence on board, the report stops short of specifying a suspected cause of the deadly crash. The report notes that other geese were found in the debris field left by the wreck.
A report on the crash’s probable cause could take up to two years to complete, the NTSB said.
The helicopter crashed 20 January in a pasture near Hydro, about 60 miles (97km) west of Oklahoma City. The helicopter was returning to the community of Weatherford after taking a patient to an Oklahoma City hospital.
The pilot and both Air Evac Lifeteam crew members – a flight nurse and a paramedic – were killed.