The FAA reported the pilot radioed in a mechanical malfunction around 1 a.m.as the plane was over Arcata on Northern California’s Pacific coast.
Advertisement
Four people were aboard the Piper PA31 medical plane as it flew over northern California.
Parent company REACH Air Medical Services said the plane was carrying a pilot, flight nurse, transport medic and patient when it went missing over Arcata, California, along the Pacific coast. The pilot notified air traffic controllers that he was going to return to Crescent City and Cal-Ore officials said they lost contact with the pilot at 1:05 a.m.
Rescue teams found the crash site on remote land owned by a private timber company in Humboldt County.
The plane is part of Cal-Ore Life Flight, a small company of about six planes that transports patients throughout Northern California and Oregon.
It took off about 12:29 a.m. Friday from Crescent City Airport, Jack McNamara Field bound for Oakland.
The National Transportation and Safety Board will investigate the crash.
A crew on the ground is combing a remote area owned by a private timber company until thick fog lifts in the early afternoon.
Don Wharton, REACH Director of Business Relations, said he could not provide the identities of those on board or other details at this time.
A small medical transport plane crashed early Friday morning in Humbolt County. Four people were believed aboard, the FAA said in a statement.
Advertisement
Be proactive – Use the “Flag as Inappropriate” link at the upper right corner of each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
