Montana News

Stevensville pilot missing in Wyoming

Posted: Nov 19, 2012 7:48 PM by MTN News

WYOMING - A small plane that originated in Stevensville, is reported missing between Jackson and Bondurant, Wyoming, according to the Jackson Hole Daily newspaper website.

A Sublette County radio station is reporting a plane that took off from Jackson Hole bound for Pinedale on Saturday afternoon failed to arrive there.

The flight originated from Stevensville and radar lost track of the plane over the upper Hoback Canyon, between Jackson and Bondurant. The search area is in western Sublette County, near the Sublette County/Lincoln County line.

Bob Rule of KPIN radio reported a small aircraft, due to land in Pinedale on Saturday afternoon, never arrived, and as of 5:30 PM Sunday, has not yet been found.

Sublette County Public Information Officer Steve Smith stated that the Civil Air Patrol and Tip Top Search and Rescue spent Sunday looking for the aircraft, which is reported to be a Cessna 182, with only the pilot on board.

Weather on Monday morning prevented the helicopter from flying, but Teton County Undersheriff Bob Gilliam said the county is planning to provide air support to ground teams from Sublette and Lincoln County search and rescue teams, according to the newspaper's report.

Sublette County volunteers from Tip Top Search and Rescue continued the search Monday morning on foot and snow machines, Sublette County Sheriff spokesman Stephen Smith said.

Crews are searching with hand held receivers seeking transmissions from the emergency locating transmitter on board the aircraft, Smith said in a statement.

Civil Air Patrol fixed wing aircraft are scheduled to join Teton County's helicopter as soon as weather permits.