Search for Missing Oregon Pilot Scaled Back

Anyone with information concerning the search effort are asked to call the Oregon Wing Heaquarters at (541) 688-9808.

Photo: Oregon CAP

(AURORA, Ore. ) - At the direction of Oregon Emergency Manegement,The Oregon U.S. Civil Air Patrol announced Sunday that they would be restructuring the eight day long search for missing Portland pilot, Courtland Mumford.

The retired airline pilot was believed to have been making local familiarization flights in his recently purchased Cub Crafters Sports Cub aircraft last Saturday, July 7th, out of Aurora Airport.

On Sunday, July 8th, family members reported that he did not return.

The Oregon CAP began search operations on Sunday and has been conducting daily search operations since then.

"CAP volunteer aircrews have conducted over 124 individual search flights with 13 aircraft and 110 personnel in the course of the last week involving over 3300 man hours," said Lt Col. Thomas Traver, public affairs officer for the Oregon CAP.

"CAP air search teams have covered over 2500 square miles within a 30 mile search radius around the Aurora Airport as well as along the Oregon Coast without success," said Major David Rudawitz, Oregon CAP mission incident commander on Sunday.

"CAP ground teams and ground search and rescue teams from the Tillamook, Yamhill and Clackamas County Sheriff Offices have also investigated numerous leads on the ground without results. Pending further developments or substantial leads, search efforts will be reduced to a lower level beginning Monday," he said.

"We appreciate the tremendous support that the family, friends and community have provided us in the course of this mission" continued Rudawitz. "We continue to look for Mr. Mumford and his aircraft. Our pilots, crews and ground support personnel are deeply disappointed that we have not yet been not able to locate him or his aircraft" he said.

"While the mission is scaled back, that does not mean the mission is closed" said Traver " The CAP and the AFRCC will keep the mission open, but with fewer crews and aircraft so that as new leads develop that would shed any new light on where the aircraft may have gone we can respond." he said

Anyone with possible information concerning this on-going search effort are asked to call the Oregon Wing Heaquarters at (541) 688-9808.