SAND GAP, Ky. — A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board shows a helicopter that crashed and killed three people was en route to Lexington — not Jackson.

        The NTSB released the preliminary report Wednesday on the Dec. 4 crash that took the life of Dr. Fred Collatz and two employees, Kelly Stewart and Jeremy Harrod, all of Manchester.

        The helicopter crashed into a hillside near Sand Gap.

        Earlier reports said Dr. Collatz was planning to fly to Jackson and then travel to Lexington.

        However, the NTSB report said Dr. Collatz told others he would travel to Lexington and then head for Jackson.

        The accident site was on a direct line between Manchester and Lexington.

        According to the report, Dr. Collatz did not file a flight plan before taking off from his home in Manchester or indicate where he planned to land in Lexington.

        The report said the R-44 helicopter hit a tree near the top of a ridge in Jackson County, and debris was scattered nearly 700 feet down the hillside.

        The cockpit burned, and both fuel tanks had burned and melted, the report said.

        Dr. Collatz had received his private pilot certificate on May 21 and had nearly 300 hours of flight experience.

        Dr. Collatz, who owned two helicopters, used the aircraft for his medical practice.

        The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

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