Date:
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Contact:
Nisha Marvel, WSDOT Aviation Communications, (360) 651-6310
UPDATED DECEMBER 14, 2007
PUYALLUP – After days of intense searching by air and ground crews, the wreckage of a missing Piper Dakota single engine plane was found on December 14 near Puyallup. The pilot, 78 year-old Thomas Maxwell of Black Diamond, WA, and his dog were found deceased on the scene.
Searchers found the wreckage in an area about seven miles southeast of Thun Field in Puyallup. Air and ground teams had been focusing on this area based on radar tracking data. Teams faced challenging conditions due to the dense tree cover in the area, and on-and-off rain and snow. The partnership between air and ground searchers proved vital in spotting the wreckage.
Personnel from the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the cause of the accident.
Maxwell had last been seen Thursday evening, December 6 at Crest Airpark in Kent, where he had flown to drop off his flight instructor after a lesson. Maxwell was thought to be flying back to Thun Field in Puyallup.
Search and rescue personnel from the Washington State Department of Transportation, King County, Pierce County, Snohomish County and Washington Air Search and Rescue have participated the in the search.
< Back to News Home