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Border Patrol officials are investigating the Tuesday morning crash of a Predator-B spy drone, according to the Department of Homeland Security's office of Customs and Border Protection in Washington, D.C.

Spokesman Michael Friel said operators lost contact with the $14 million unmanned plane about 2:50 a.m. as it patrolled the border at 12,000 to 15,000 feet. Efforts to re-establish contact were not successful.

A search team aboard one of the agency's Black Hawk helicopters located the crash site about 10 miles north of Nogales at about 6:20 a.m., Friel said. No one was injured and no property was damaged, he added.

Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada said his office received calls on the crash about 6:30 a.m. from residents at the Morningstar Ranch near Josephine Canyon, just east of Tubac.

Estrada said the witnesses heard a loud crash at about 3:30 a.m. and called the department after going out Tuesday morning and finding the drone.

The Predator, called an unmanned aerial vehicle, is remotely controlled through satellite communication, and its cameras and sensing equipment are able to see through clouds from up to 50,000 feet.

Friel said the Border Patrol began deploying the Predator last September. Since Oct. 1, it has flown more than 900 hours and is credited with the apprehension of 1,793 illegal entrants and 200 pounds of marijuana.

Because of its ability to patrol for extended periods at high altitudes, the Predator can detect activity beyond U.S. territory, he said. It has observed people staging for smuggling attempts on the Mexican side of the border.

"From our perspective, the UAV program is a critical component of our border (security) strategy. Because of the loss of the asset, CBP will adjust resources appropriately to make sure border security is not compromised," Friel said.

He said the agency plans eventually to replace the Predator-B.

Friel said an investigative team has been sent to the scene to determine what caused the loss of communication that led to the crash.