Police described a fatal helicopter crash south of Cessnock, which claimed three lives, as a tragedy.
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Dense bushland and rough terrain made the site almost inaccessible to police on Tuesday as questions were raised about the cause of the crash.
A team of investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau travelled to the site to lead the investigation, and Central Hunter police will prepare a report for the coroner.
During a press conference at Cessnock, police would not say what caused the crash in the Watagan Forest that killed a 74-year-old Terrey Hills man, his 71-year-old wife and a 72-year-old Bayview man.
The deceased have been identified as retired business man turned landscape photographer Richard Green, who was the pilot, graphic artist Carolyn Green and renowned documentary maker John Davis.
Central Hunter commander Superintendent Craig Jackson said police had received no witness accounts of the crash, but could piece together a flight path after canvassing the area.
Superintendent Jackson said there had been some storm activity in the area on Saturday when the aircraft went missing, but he stopped short of identifying the cause of the crash.
"We're going to forensically examine the crash site and then we are going to recover the bodies," Superintendent Jackson said.
"[The crash site] is in Watagan Forest at a location south-west of Laguna."
The three Sydney residents went missing during a flight from Breeza, near Tamworth, to Sydney on Saturday.
Australian Maritime Safety Authority began an aerial search soon after.
The wreckage and three bodies were found in Watagan Forest about 7pm on Monday.
Police from Central Hunter LAC, Newcastle Police Rescue Unit, Forensic Services Group and an inspector from the Police Airwing remain on the scene to help with the recovery, which was expected to be complete on Tuesday evening.
The scene will be handed over to investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, who will investigate the cause of the crash.