What was feared has been confirmed. A week-long search for a missing airplane in southeast Missouri has concluded; the crash site found with no survivors.
Lieutenant Colonel David Miller with the Civil Air Patrol reports that the crash site is located eight miles southeast of Ironton in Madison County. A pilot with the Air Patrol spotted debris on the side of a hill early Friday evening. The Madison County Sheriff’s Department followed the lead and found the plane. Three bodies have been recovered. Names have not been released.
The search began six days ago. Miller says the Air Patrol had little to go on; simply that a small aircraft went off the radar near Doniphan. Airplanes have emergency transmitters, but the Air Patrol never locked in on a signal, making the search even more difficult.
Miller says the volunteers with the Air Patrol searched 5,100 square miles of hilly terrain covered with thick forests in southeast Missouri. Poor weather conditions limited the length of each day’s search. Four aircraft, plus volunteers on the ground, aided the search.
The plane was traveling from Arkansas to Wisconsin. Family members attempted to contact the crew via cell phone, but had no luck. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash.
Louie Seiberlich, KREI contributed to this report.
AUDIO: KREI Reporter Louie Seiberlich reports [1:45 MP3]
