MADISON, Wis. -- A University of Wisconsin Hospital Med Flight helicopter crashed on a journey from La Crosse on Saturday night. Three crew people were killed.

SLIDESHOW: See Photos Of Med Flight Helicopter Crash Site | SLIDESHOW: See Photos Of Med Flight Victims | VIDEO: See Video Of Crash Site | VIDEO: UW CEO Talks About Staff Response To Crash | VIDEO: Madison Mayor Expresses Condolences To Victims' Families | VIDEO: Program Manager Details Helicopter's Last Communication | VIDEO: Hanson Talks About Weather Conditions, History Of Copters

The helicopter disappeared on Saturday night and authorities launched a search. The crash site was found on Sunday morning.

A UW spokesman said that three people onboard the helicopter died in the crash. They were identified as Dr. Darren Bean, a physician, Mark Coyne, a registered nurse, and Steve Lipperer, the pilot. The three victims all lived in Madison, WISC-TV reported.

Authorities said that the helicopter crashed in the La Crosse area. Allan Tiedt, of the La Crosse County Emergency Dispatch Center, said that the crash site was in the Town of Onalaska. The La Crosse Sheriff's Department, along with Onalaska and Shelby fire departments, have found a portion of the helicopter's fuselage. The La Crosse Police Department said the location of the crash is near Kiel Coulee Road, which is on the bluff about five miles northeast of downtown La Crosse, according to WKBT-TV.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Cory said that the crash occurred at about 10:48 p.m. about three miles from La Crosse. She said that the National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, with the FAA assisting, but it may take several weeks to more than a year to complete.

UW Hospital officials said that the crash site was discovered at about 8:40 a.m., located about four miles from the airport.

During a morning news conference, officials said that they no details on what might have happened, but preliminary reports suggest that the craft might have struck a hill and/or flown into some trees.

Authorities had set up a command post in the Town of Medary, WKBT-TV reported.

The helicopter disappeared at about 10:30 p.m. after taking off from La Crosse. It was sent to La Crosse to return a patient back to that community. UW Hospital spokeswoman Lisa Burnette said that the helicopter took off after dropping off a patient at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center following a flight from Madison.

Officials said that they lost contact with the helicopter shortly after takeoff.

Med Flight director Mark Hanson said that there were no concerns about the weather before the copter took off, but that rain and deteriorating conditions into the night caused the search to be conducted on the ground only.

Hanson said that the last time they heard from the men was when they took off from the airport. They then tried verbal communication, but didn't hear anything. About 10 to 15 minutes later, they put a plan in place to backtrack what might have happened, he said.

UW Hospital officials said that they would be cooperating with the FAA investigation.

A spokesman for Gunderson Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse said that their helicopter helped search for the missing one.

UW Hospital spokesman Aaron Conklin said there is one other Med Flight helicopter that serves university hospital system and it has been grounded.

Officials began the Med Flight program in April 1985. They said that the average trip for a patient pickup is about 55 miles, WISC-TV reported.

The UW's two helicopters were put into service last August and October.

The families of the victims have been notified.

Donna Katen-Bahensky, UW Hospital CEO, offered prayers to the victims' families.

"This is a tremendous loss," she said.

Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz attended the news conference and expressed his condolences to the families. He said that he knew Bean and the doctor was recently a guest on his program.

Gov. Jim Doyle's office issued a statement expressing sorrow for the victims.

"In our moments of greatest peril, our lives depend on the courageous work of Med Flight personnel," Doyle said in the statement. "Dr. Darren Bean, Mark Coyne and Steve Lipperer dedicated themselves to rescuing people who faced the longest odds, and we owe them tremendous gratitude for their extraordinary service and dedication. I pray for them, their families and all the others who love them."

Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.

For More Info:

University of Wisconsin Hospital Med Flight Information