RENO, Nev. (AP) -- Investigators began the grim job on Monday of trying to determine what caused a medical helicopter to crash into a mountain peak, killing all five people on board including an 11-day-old infant and its mother.
A team from the National Transportation Safety Board was at the crash site on 9,775-foot Mount Tobin, about 25 miles southwest of Battle Mountain and some 200 miles northeast of Reno.
NTSB spokesman Keith Holloway said from Washington, D.C., that it was too soon to have an idea what caused the Access Air helicopter to go down.
``Nothing has revealed itself at this point,'' he said. ``They are documenting the wreckage to see what was in operation at the time. It's possible some of the wreckage will need to be sent back to the labs in Washington.''
Pershing County Sheriff Ron Skinner said the bodies were recovered Monday and would be taken to the Washoe County coroner in Reno for identification.
``I'm sensitive about releasing any names without positive identification,'' he said.
The helicopter had landed in Battle Mountain on Saturday to pick up the baby and its mother. They were killed along with the pilot, a nurse and a paramedic, none of whom was identified.
Hospital officials in Battle Mountain said they could not release information on the infant's medical problem.
Chuck Young, Access Air base manager in Elko said the mother and child were from Battle Mountain and the pilot, nurse and paramedic were based in Elko.
Authorities lost contact with the helicopter about 11:30 p.m. Saturday. The Bell-407 helicopter crashed at about the 8,700-foot level of the mountain.
The NSTB's Holloway said the remote area and the ruggedness of the site added complexity to the investigation.
``We're devastated,'' said Jim Hutchens, president of Access Air based in Boise, Idaho. ``These were our friends and colleagues.''
It was a little windy, but weather did not appear to be a factor in the crash, Young said.
``The pilot was very experienced with a good record. The helicopter had a good safety record. We had it for quite some time and it flew like a champ.
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