Search continues for missing plane that crashed near Queets

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The search for a missing pilot and plane near Queets who went missing March 6 is expected to continue this week.

Search-and-rescue responders were called in early last week after state officials were notified of a missing 2006 Cessna T182 Turbo Skylane that abruptly dropped off radar as it flew over rugged forest land near Queets last Monday.

The missing pilot was identified as Rod Collen of Tacoma.

Search efforts began the night of March 6 and expanded to air searches on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday when the weather allowed, officials said.

Law enforcement and others have been patrolling roadways in the last known position area of the aircraft, as well.

Officials reported that the weather on Sunday prevented search-and-rescue efforts from the air from continuing. Personnel will evaluate air search efforts again Monday.

According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, Collen left the Tacoma Narrows Airport at 5:35 p.m. Monday, March 6. 

The plane’s Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast system was either turned off or malfunctioned a few minutes into the flight, officials said, and the plane was no longer visible on normal tracking systems used by air traffic controllers.

With the help of a specialized radar forensics team, primary radar returns were located that placed the aircraft near the coast between Lake Quinault and Queets. Officials said the final radar plots show the aircraft made a very rapid descent to the ground. 

Collen was the only one in the plane.

While no signal has been detected from the plane’s Emergency Locator Transmitter since it went off radar, search officials have narrowed the search area to a 36-square-mile section of forestland.

Snow on the ground has impacted attempts to find the plane, searchers said.

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Quinault Natural Resources crews have patrolled roads near the areas but the section of terrain is too large and rugged to send in ground search crews until the search can be narrowed to a more specific site.

The area where the plane descended is on Quinault Tribal land near Queets near the Jefferson and Grays Harbor county line. 

The search has been assisted by Coast Guard crews out of Port Angeles, and the state is also coordinating the effort with the Quinault Tribe, Jefferson and Pierce county sheriff’s offices, the Tacoma Police Department and the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center.

Anyone who thinks they saw or heard the plane Monday, March 6 or spotted anything in the area should call the State Emergency Operations Center at 800-258-5990 with details.