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By: Robert Hester

The Marine’s investigation into Lance Cpl. Steven Hancock’s death has been determined as accidental.

According to a news release from the United States Marines, “the Marine’s death was likely the result of an accidental fall from the aircraft.”

Hancock, of Coal City, Illinois died May 19, 2014 when he fell from an MV-22B Osprey during a training exercise over Bladen County near White Lake.

Hancock, a member of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 2014 and a crew chief on the helicopter, fell from the open back of the MV-22 during an otherwise routine training flight, according to the news release.

There were no witnesses to the fall, but the investigation found no evidence to indicate it was anything other than an accident.

His family was notified earlier this week of the findings.

Mike Barton, Public Affairs director with the United States Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, NC was quoted in an Illinois publication that the Osprey can carry 24 combat troops along with three crew members, but in the day of the accident there were only four crew members on board.

Barton said, “There was another crew chief on board the aircraft who went forward to talk to the pilot.”

The new release indicated it is impossible to know how Hancock fell.

When he was last seen in the back of the aircraft, he was strapped with a gunner’s belt,which was attached to the inside of the aircraft with a safety tether.

The gunner’s belt is not a seat belt; it is a belt that is attached to a safety tether designed to allow free movement within the aircraft while aircrew performs duties. Crew members are required to wear the belt and tether while working in the back of the aircraft.

Although the investigation did not reveal exactly how Hancock came out of his belt, it was determined he had been unconscious and in a relaxed state when he slipped out of the belt while outside of the airplane. The belt and tether were dangling out of the open back hatch, according to Barton.

Lt. Col. Brett Hart, VMMT-204 commanding officer, said in a news release,”I can say that his passing has taken a heavy toll on the men and women who came to be his Marine Corps family. We miss him.”

His body was found the following day after he fell from the aircraft, on state forestry land near White Lake, NC.