On Wednesday, the search for a lost pilot and plane came to an end near Whiskey Dick Mountain, east of Ellensburg. In a statement obtained by WSDOT, officials confirmed that the pilot, the only person on board, was found deceased at the crash site.
After being reported missing by a family member, the red, white, and blue Cessna 150 was located roughly at 9:00 a.m. with the help of a Life Flight helicopter. With the last known coordinates in the hills between Ellensburg and Columbia River, search efforts were mounted throughout the chill of night, with teams scouring the rugged landscape for any sign of the missing aircraft.
The Kittitas County Sheriff's Office is now tasked with recovering the pilot's body, ensuring the safety of their team while navigating the difficulties presented by the crash site's terrain. Immediate family members have been made aware of these developments. The coordinated efforts from multiple agencies, including the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, Washington State Emergency Operations Center, and various county sheriff's offices, were pivotal in concluding the exhausting search mission that ultimately led to the discovery.
The Washington State Department of Transportation, charged with overseeing aerial search and rescue operations, had been notified Tuesday night of the Cessna's disappearance. The aircraft, bound for Lake Chelan Airport, had taken off from Yakima Air Terminal/McAllister Field at 3:43 p.m. the preceding Tuesday, only to vanish before reaching its intended destination.
Further information regarding the crash will be released by the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office, with media inquiries into the investigation of the cause being directed to the National Transportation Safety Board.
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