Search for missing plane moves north

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. -- Search efforts to find a single-engine plane missing since Sunday have moved north to St. Francois and Iron counties.

Civil Air Patrol flight and ground crews are shifting their base of operations today from Malden, Mo., to Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield, Mo.

"This change is based upon further review of radar tracings, conversations with the Air Force and eyewitness reports," said public information officer Lt. Col. David A. Miller.

U.S. Air Force personnel have used the last images of the low-wing Piper Cherokee PA28, combined with reports of a low-flying aircraft at the time of its disappearance, to extrapolate a possible flight path, Miller said.

CAP volunteers will continue to put forth a maximum effort today and will continue through the weekend, according to Miller.

Four aircraft with supporting ground teams covered more than 700 square miles Thursday around the Farmington, Mo., area.

Efforts wound down a little before dark due to worsening weather with rain and high winds in the forecast Thursday night, Miller said. Weather is not expected to be an issue this weekend, he said.

More than 3,000 square miles have been searched since the flight from Florida to Wisconsin was first reported overdue by family members. Initial efforts were concentrated in the Ripley County, Mo., area, where the aircraft was last seen on radar around 1:40 a.m. Sunday.

It is believed the pilot may have landed briefly around 1 a.m. at Corning (Ark.) Municipal Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration worked in the initial days of the search to confirm the stop, according to Corning airport officials. The airport was not open at that time, so no staff would have been on site, they said.

The airport also does not sell fuel.

Searchers have speculated the plane may have been traveling through the Ripley County area Sunday to avoid bad weather to the east. They say it would have needed to refuel as it headed north.

CAP is not releasing the names of who may have been on the flight, saying they have received conflicting reports.

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

WQOW of Eau Claire, Wis., has reported 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.

Concerned family members arrived Wednesday in Malden to be briefed on operations, according to CAP, and continued to assist with search efforts Thursday.

Anyone who believes they may have information about the missing plane should contact the CAP mission information officer 314-623-0831.

Pertinent address:

Malden, MO

Corning, AR

Chesterfield, MO

Farmington, MO