3 die in helicopter crash near Doyle, California

A medical helicopter has crashed near the California-Nevada state line, killing all three people on board, federal and local officials say. No patients were on board the aircraft.

The crash happened at 2 a.m. on Saturday in California’s Lassen County, about 11 miles south of Doyle, an unincorporated community, or 45 miles northwest of Reno, Nevada.

Three people were on board the Aerospatialte AS350 helicopter when it crashed under unknown circumstances, said Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Gregor said the helicopter was en route from Reno to Susanville, California when the crash occurred. The helicopter had dropped a patient off at a hospital in Reno just before the crash.

“The aircraft was destroyed by the crash impact and fire,” Gregor said. It’s believed all three victims were crew members and that no patients were on board. The pilot was not communicating with air traffic controllers when the accident occurred.

The 1982-build rotorcraft was registered to Mountain Lifeflight, located at Susanville Airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the cause of the crash.