Search continues five days after plane went missing

MALDEN, Mo. -- Five days after a single engine aircraft bound for Wisconsin disappeared from radar over Ripley County, Mo., searchers have expanded their efforts to include the Farmington, Mo., area.

At least three planes were expected to resume the search Thursday morning when fog lifted.

"We're moving a little further north based on possible witness reports of a low flying aircraft," Lt. Col. David A. Miller, Civil Air Patrol public information officer, said this morning.

More than 30 Civil Air Patrol flight and ground crew members have scoured approximately 3,000 square miles of land in Butler and Ripley counties since they were activated Monday. They are operating from a command center in Malden, Mo.

Concerned family members of those believed to be on the missing low-wing Piper Cherokee PA28 were briefed Wednesday at the command center by CAP members, according to Capt. Mike Foppe, a public information officer working from Malden.

Due to conflicting reports, CAP is not verifying the names at this time of anyone who may have been on the plane, Foppe said.

Reports vary on whether the missing plane carried two or three people.

WQOW of Eau Claire, Wis., has reported a well-known businesswoman from that area, Kim Reneau, was on board the plane. It was due to land Sunday at Eau Claire's Heartland Aviation.

The aircraft left from Florida and likely stopped in Arkansas for fuel, Foppe said.

CAP was called in by the U.S. Air Force after family members reported the plane overdue.

Searchers began their efforts in the area the plane was last seen on radar and expanded out from there. Radar coverage tracks planes above 1,900 feet and the pilot could have descended below that level to get ahead of bad weather Sunday, according to officials.

"This is a difficult area. There is some very wooded terrain and little road access," Foppe explained. "A lot of debris from the air looks similar to an aircraft. It can be difficult if you do see a clue, to get in to access it. Ground crews may have to hike in."

Ground crews Wednesday were rechecking landing areas to make sure the plane had not been parked somewhere, and also interviewing witnesses who had called in tips, Foppe continued.

Searchers' efforts were hampered by bad weather much of the day Tuesday, as well as fog and icing on planes early in the morning Wednesday.

The all-volunteer Civil Air Patrol will continue searching until the Air force directs otherwise, Miller said. Their decision is based on how successful it appears the search will be and resources available, he added.