Officials Seek Witnesses, Videos In South Brunswick Helicopter Crash

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is continuing their investigation into the helicopter crash from Aug. 31.

On Saturday, Sept. 2, the NTSB removed the helicopter from the woods and continued the investigation at a hanger in Delaware.

South Brunswick Police continues to assist the NTSB in the week ahead to recover any evidence for their investigation.

NTSB is asking anyone in the Kingston, Princeton, Montgomery, and Franklin Township area who may have had ring doorbell video or any first-hand accounts of the helicopter flying or the crash to email Investigator Aaron McCarter at witness@ntsb.gov.

"Some people may have been away for the holiday weekend, so we are sending out the request to ask them to review any home surveillance or ring doorbell video they may have," South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka said.

On Aug. 31 at 3:25 p.m. South Brunswick Police received multiple 911 calls and a firefighter's radio transmission reporting a helicopter crash in the area off Route 27 near Carnegie Lake.

Within minutes, Kingston Fire Department Captain Chuck Pisano and South Brunswick Officer Tyler Harpster arrived at the scene. Witnesses believed the helicopter had gone down somewhere within the Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park.

Pisano and Harpster found the chopper partially submerged in water and the pilot's shoulder sticking out. The two men waded through four-foot-deep water, lifted the helicopter up, pulled the pilot out, and brought him to the shoreline.

The pilot, Josef Yitzhak, 44, of Israel, had suffered severe injuries and life-saving efforts were not possible. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Instrumental in providing assistance the first evening were the Kingston Fire Department, Middlesex County Hazmat, Middlesex County Office of Emergency Management, Franklin Township Police, Middlesex County Medical Examiner Deputy Chief Thoma, Rabbi Mendy Carlbach, and Misaskim.

In the two days that followed the crash, South Brunswick Police worked with the NTSB, FAA, Kingston Fire Department, New Jersey State Park Police, and Middlesex County Hazmat to recover the aircraft and remove it from the woods.

"I want to thank all the agencies who have helped us. Our thoughts and condolences go out to Mr. Yitzhak's mother, sisters, and his entire family,” Hayducka said.

“We are committed to helping the NTSB in any way possible and I ask anyone with information to contact them."

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