DISTRICT HEIGHTS, Md. - A preliminary report, including audio tapes with a Maryland State Police MedEvac helicopter that crashed in Prince George's County, has been released by the NTSB. But the exact cause of the crash has not been determined.

The helicopter was carrying five people on September 28; four people died in the crash and one was critically injured. The report and tapes are the first details released of what happened the night of the crash and what questions were asked before the chopper even took off.

The Sept. 28 crash in District Heights, Md., was the worst in the 40 years that Maryland State police have been operating medevac flights. 

The report indicates that just before the copter pilot lost communication, he sought assistance for a radar landing in poor weather at Andrews Air Force Base. According to the NTSB report, the tower controller said she was not certified to handle such an approach.
FAA (web|news) spokeswoman Laura Brown said tower controllers are not required to be qualified for such approaches because they are handled by separate facilities.

At the beginning of the tape, there is a concern about whether or not to fly on the rainy and foggy night.

Syscom: "Ok, we're very call by call due to weather. We'll have to check. Give me a map page and town."

Two people, Jordan Wells and Ashley Younger, who were in a car crash, were stable by getting flown to the hospital. On tape, pilot Stephen Bunker sounds concerned about the weather.

Syscom: "Up to you man. Can you fly?"
Bunker: College Park is at 810. Well I just heard Medstar so if they can do it we can do it."
Syscom: "Ok, it is up to you."
Bunker: "Yeah, we ought to be able to do it."

The helicopter, Chopper Two, tried to go to Prince George's County Hospital.

Trooper 2: "Ok sir, PG hospital is completely fogged-in. We're unable to land there. We're gonna be returning to Andrews." 

» raw audio - communication between Trooper 2 and ground officials

More than 10 minutes later, dispatchers lose the chopper, but didn't know it until a sergeant from Maryland State Police calls in.

Barracks L: "Do you have Trooper 2 on anything?"
Syscom: "Yeah, they're trying to transfer a couple of patients to PG.
Barracks L: "Where is trooper 2 now?
Syscom: 'They're right at Andrews."
Barracks L: "They're already landed?"
Syscom: "Yeah."
Barracks L: "You sure everything is ok because Andrews is calling saying the lost 'em 10 minutes out and they have a longitude and latitude we're trying to get and everything else on it, but if they're safely down there, you can confirm that ..I want to make sure everything is ok."

Dispatchers call in to the helicopter.

Syscom: "Syscom... Trooper 2"
Syscom: "Syscom... Trooper 2"
Syscom: "They're still waiting for them to land?"
PG Co.: "Yeah."
Syscom: "You don't have Trooper 2 on the ground?"
PG Co.: "No."

Sixteen minutes in, there were still no whereabouts for Trooper Two, despite GPS tracking technology.

PG Co.: "Ok, They are out there looking.
Syscom: "Appreciate it."
PG Co.: "See ya."

The NTSB released a preliminary report on the crash with basic information.

The organization that coordinates the statewide MedEvac system says it appears all protocols were followed by the pilot and the medics who originally called for the flight. The NTSB has renewed its call for a warning system to tell pilots they are getting too close to the earth.

Four people died in the helicopter crash including: Maryland State Trooper and Owings Mills Volunteer Firefighter Mickey Lippy, Charles County EMT Tonya Mallard, pilot Stephen Bunker, and car crash victim Ashley Younger. Jordan Wells, the second car crash victim, survived the crash in serious, but stable condition.