SAN JUAN COUNTY – A Cessna aircraft departing from Colorado and headed for Idaho went missing Wednesday. The search is being conducted in La Sal National Forest by Utah Civil Air Patrol, Utah Highway Patrol and San Juan County Sheriff’s Office.
The aircraft departed from Durango, Colorado, at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. The missing pilot linked up with a friend who departed from New Mexico. Both pilots were headed for Johnson Creek, Idaho.
The friend noticed that the missing pilot was no longer answering his radio, Lt. Col. Matt Johnson, Civil Air Patrol incident commander, said. The friend proceeded to try and get a visual contact but was unsuccessful. The friend did arrive safely in Idaho.
The last contact from the missing male pilot was received at 7:20 a.m. Wednesday. The pilot filed no flight plans.
Utah Civil Air Patrol was alerted Wednesday, at approximately 8:30 p.m., that the aircraft was missing and the family has been informed.
“We believe at this point it’s just the pilot,” Johnson said, “we have not heard of any passengers.”
Four aircraft from Utah and three aircraft from Colorado are currently helping with the search, Johnson said. Ground search is being conducted by the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office.
“We are particularly interested in sightings and times and directions,” Johnson said, “that kind of thing.”
Anyone who may have seen a low flying white and blue Cessna high wing aircraft Wednesday in the La Sal area is asked to report any information to the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office: Telephone 435-587-2237.
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