COOLBAUGH TWP. - The investigation into the helicopter crash that killed two men and seriously injured a third continued Thursday afternoon as National Transportation Safety Board investigators surveyed the Monroe County scene.
NTSB Air Safety Investigator Todd Gunther said his crew of specialists would be collecting and combing though evidence for the next five to seven days to try to identify factors that could have caused the crash. He said it could be months before an official cause is released.
The three men were on their way from Elmira, N.Y., when the helicopter - owned by ACS Helicopters LLC in Far Hills, N.J. - went down in a heavily wooded area near mile marker 5.7 on the southbound lane of Interstate 380 at about 8 p.m. Tuesday.
The pilot of the aircraft, 52-year-old William Ellsworth of Califon, N.J., and front-seat passenger Tighe Sullivan, 51, of Darien, Conn., were both killed. Stephen Barral of Bernardsville, N.J., survived and was taken to Lehigh Valley Medical Center with serious injuries.
The hospital did not have any additional information regarding Mr. Barral's condition Thursday night.
Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Ellsworth died upon impact as a result of blunt force trauma to the head and chest, Monroe County Coroner Bob Allen said Thursday afternoon after he performed the autopsies.
Mr. Gunther said the helicopter was traveling back to New Jersey from Elmira, N.Y., in ¼-of-a-mile visibility and foggy conditions and detoured toward Mount Pocono Airport.
Mr. Allen said the helicopter crashed nose first before rolling on its side.
NTSB investigators will be analyzing the aircraft's technical systems, engine function, structure and licensing along with reviewing the physiology of the pilot to help determine the cause of the crash, Mr. Gunther said.
Mr. Ellsworth's wife of 23 years, Trish Ellsworth, said the couple recently celebrated their anniversary in St. Thomas. She will cherish the memories of the warm, fun-loving man who had a great sense of humor and smile.
"I got 28 amazing years with him and I've just got to keep that in my heart," she said.
The American Airlines pilot enjoyed golfing, traveling and spending time with his family, including his two children, Eliza, 18, and Harry, 15, Mrs. Ellsworth said. He loved to be in the air.
"He loved to fly. It was definitely his passion," she said.
Contact the writer: ksullivan@timesshamrock.com, @ksullivanTT on Twitter