Plane Parts Wash Onto Oregon Beach Following Fatal Crash off Coast

Anyone who locates parts of the aircraft should contact FAA Regional Duty Officer Mike O'Connor at (425) 227-1389.

Piper PA28 was similar to this plane Photo courtesy: info.thielert.com

(LINCOLN CITY, Ore.) - Parts of a small plane's landing gear that washed onto Nelscott Beach in Lincoln City appear to be from a missing plane that departed the Siletz Bay Airport at Gleneden Beach between 8:30 and 10:30 Saturday morning.

Lincoln City Police were notified of the find at 3:05 PM by a person who found the plane's rear wheel assembly while walking on the beach.

A Coast Guard Spokesman says two HH-65C Dolphin helicopter crews launched and the Coast Guard Station Depoe Bay launched a 47-foot motor life boat to search the surrounding area for a possible downed aircraft and crew members.

The Coast Guard confirms that two people were aboard the aircraft, a Piper PA-28 that is registered to Aero Dynamics Flying Club out of Clackamas, Oregon. The name of the people aboard the plane were not available.

Lincoln City Police say that later in the afternoon, a citizen called the Federal Avaition Administration advising them that he had recovered another section of landing gear in the same general area of Nelscott Beach.

Terry Wilmeth, an F.A.A. representative, contacted the person and took possession of the airplane pieces. Wilmeth arrived on the scene at approximately 6:30 PM.

Lincoln City Police say that since the arrival of the F.A.A., other parts of the plane have been recovered, including a survival pack and other small parts.

Any information of an overdue aircraft and missing person or persons can contact FAA Regional Duty Officer Mike O'Connor at (425) 227-1389.