Search for missing plane to continue today

OXLY, Mo. -- Civil Air Patrol pilots and ground crews covered more than 1,600 square miles Monday, but found no sign of a single-engine plane that disappeared from radar two days ago over the Oxly area.

Tuesday's search was called off due to bad weather, said Lt. Col. David Miller with the Civil Air Patrol.

The missing plane last registered on radar at 1:40 a.m. Sunday, said Ripley County Sheriff Ron Barnett.

The low-wing Piper Cherokee PA28 was traveling from Arkansas to Wisconsin. Reports indicate there was more than one person on board.

"We have been in contact with the U.S. Air Force and [Civil Air Patrol]. They have a command set up in Malden and if they find anything, we are prepared to help," Barnett said. Work to find the plane began in the Oxly, Naylor, Mo., and Fairdealing, Mo., areas, according to Barnett. More than 30 members of the Missouri Wing of CAP participated Monday in the daylight to dark search, said Miller.

CAP was called in around 3:40 a.m. Monday by the U.S. Air Force, Miller said. A concerned family member had reported the plane overdue after it failed to arrive early Sunday.

Four flight crews, based in Malden, Mo., Fulton, Mo., and St. Louis, were joined Monday by four ground teams from Branson, Mo., Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., Lebanon, Mo., and St. Louis.

"Most aircraft have a beacon, an emergency locator transmitter, that goes off if an aircraft is set down too hard," Miller said Monday evening. "We have not heard or found the ELT in 12 hours of searching."

However, there could be reasons for the lack of ELT transmission, such as damage to the device or low batteries, he continued.

"We will continue searching for this aircraft until we're successful or until the U.S. Air Force tells us to stop," said Lt. Col. Randy Fuller, Missouri Wing director of emergency services and mission incident commander. "We owe that to the families."

Miller said a full search effort would resume today, which should include four aircraft and a large number of ground teams.

The all-volunteer CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue as directed by the Air Force. With 61,000 members nationwide, is an official auxiliary of the Air Force.

Pertinent address:

Oxly, MO