Crews searching for private plane overdue in Lynden
OLYMPIA, Wash. - The Washington State Department of Transportation says crews are searching for a small, private plane that didn't reach its destination in Lynden on Saturday.
The plane, carrying three people including the pilot, left Kalispell, Mont., about 1 p.m. Saturday and was due in Lynden at 4 p.m.
The plane did not arrive and family members notified authorities. The three occupants are related: 62-year-old Leland Bowman, his 63-year-old wife Sharon, and their 16-year-old step-granddaughter Autumn Veatch.
"Really sad, tired, hopeful," said David Veatch, Autumn's father.
A phone signal from one of the plane's occupants was detected around 4 p.m. in an area near Omak.
Those cell signals are helping to develop search areas. The search is centering south of Mount Baker, along the intended flight plan. The plane is described as a white and red Beech 35 aircraft.
Air crews searched the area Sunday, listening for emergency locator beacon signals as well as conducting visual searches. Ground search crews are on standby and will be sent in if something is detected from the air.
The first day's air search ended Sunday at about 8 p.m. as darkness descended. Aerial searches were set to resume at 8 a.m. Monday, but were postponed until noon due to rain and cloudy weather in the search area.
The Civil Air Patrol says five plane crews will be searching a 50-by-50-mile area.
Law enforcement also checked all airports along the flight plan early Sunday morning, but did not locate the plane.
No mayday calls went out, but the aircraft likely passed through rain and thunderstorms.
"It is anticipated they would have encountered weather activity," said Major Ralph Black with the Civil Air Patrol.
Family members just hope they'll have some answers soon.
"I can't imagine anybody having to go through something like this," David Veatch said.
The plane, carrying three people including the pilot, left Kalispell, Mont., about 1 p.m. Saturday and was due in Lynden at 4 p.m.
The plane did not arrive and family members notified authorities. The three occupants are related: 62-year-old Leland Bowman, his 63-year-old wife Sharon, and their 16-year-old step-granddaughter Autumn Veatch.
"Really sad, tired, hopeful," said David Veatch, Autumn's father.
A phone signal from one of the plane's occupants was detected around 4 p.m. in an area near Omak.
Those cell signals are helping to develop search areas. The search is centering south of Mount Baker, along the intended flight plan. The plane is described as a white and red Beech 35 aircraft.
Air crews searched the area Sunday, listening for emergency locator beacon signals as well as conducting visual searches. Ground search crews are on standby and will be sent in if something is detected from the air.
The first day's air search ended Sunday at about 8 p.m. as darkness descended. Aerial searches were set to resume at 8 a.m. Monday, but were postponed until noon due to rain and cloudy weather in the search area.
The Civil Air Patrol says five plane crews will be searching a 50-by-50-mile area.
Law enforcement also checked all airports along the flight plan early Sunday morning, but did not locate the plane.
No mayday calls went out, but the aircraft likely passed through rain and thunderstorms.
"It is anticipated they would have encountered weather activity," said Major Ralph Black with the Civil Air Patrol.
Family members just hope they'll have some answers soon.
"I can't imagine anybody having to go through something like this," David Veatch said.
