Missing Plane Found in Rich Mountain Area

As we reported last night, the small airplane that went missing Monday morning from Ellijay airport has been found in a remote mountain area. Authorities have confirmed the sad news: there are no survivors.

As Major Paige Joyner of the Civil Air Patrol explained to me this morning, the search effort was successful due to information received from local citizens. The Georgia State Patrol helicopter pilot who found the wreckage was investigating reports of sightings in the Rich Mountain area. We were at the airport when the GSP Bell Jetranger helicopter took off before locating the wreckage (Update: see video above):

Major Joyner emphasized that the search was a group effort. The five CAP flight crews, CAP ground crews, Gilmer Fire and Rescue, and the GSP helicopter unit spent Tuesday and Wednesday investigating a range of reported sightings. Without this large-scale effort, which was organized by the CAP, the search may have taken much longer.

The downed airplane, a 1978 Beechcraft 35 Bonanza, was found in the remote Rich Mountain Wilderness area just northeast of Ellijay. The NTSB and FAA are now investigating the incident.

CAP would like to thank members of the local community who assisted the search effort. On behalf of the Civil Air Patrol, Major Joyner expressed sincere gratitude for the assistance given by the operators of the Ellijay Airport, Gilmer County Aviation, local restaurants who donated food, and citizens who reported information.

In fact, Major Joyner said “In ten years of conducting these search operations, I have never worked with such a helpful community”.