Plane Crash Kills Two West of Philomath

Two people from Idaho were killed, authorities found the plane early this morning.

Salem-News.com

(PHILOMATH, Ore.) - On Sunday, January 17th at approximately 8:00 p.m. Benton County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue personnel and law enforcement deputies were dispatched to search for a missing plane.

Corvallis airport officials reported that a pilot had filed a flight plan that indicated the plane should be arriving in Corvallis at about 4:00 p.m. When the airplane did not arrive, dispatch was notified and search teams dispatched.

At about 2:00 a.m. Monday morning, REACH helicopter was able to fly the route indicated in the flight plan and was able to locate a signal from the beacon located on the airplane.

That location was narrowed to an area west of Philomath.

Search and Rescue personnel as well as law enforcement deputies continued to search the area, finally locating the wreckage of the plane about 8:30 a.m. this morning.

Both the pilot and a passenger were found deceased at the scene. Names of the victims are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The plane, a Cessna fixed wing single engine, is registered to the Department of the Interior in Boise, Idaho.

Source: Benton County Sheriff's Office