Authorities in Sweetwater County are currently leading an intensive search for a Wyoming pilot and his plane, which went missing on Tuesday after departing from an airport near Rock Springs, Cowboy State Daily reports.
The Piper Comanche aircraft had been en route to California but failed to reach its destination, prompting a large-scale search effort.
The Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office was alerted at 1:22 p.m. Tuesday by a concerned caller reporting the missing pilot. The plane, which left the Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport earlier that morning, had not arrived as scheduled in California. The lone occupant is a male pilot in his mid-50s from Green River, Wyoming.
Sheriff’s agents initiated a search and rescue operation that continued into the evening. The search focused on an area southwest of Rock Springs, specifically near Pine and Little Mountain, a region known for its mountainous and rugged terrain, which includes steep cliffs and ravines. Ground and aerial search teams were deployed, and officials used automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data and cellphone ping information to aid in their efforts.
While weather conditions, including low cloud cover, hampered the initial search, officials worked to mobilize nighttime aerial search units. However, by 6 p.m. Tuesday, the search was temporarily suspended due to poor weather and the challenging terrain. Ground teams remain on standby, prepared to resume efforts as conditions improve.
Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Jason Mower confirmed that while it is not yet clear whether the plane crashed or made an emergency landing, the search teams are focusing on the last known location based on available data. The search will continue to prioritize the area where the plane was last detected.
Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport Director Devon Brubaker noted that the airport has been cooperating with authorities to provide necessary data and resources. Despite difficult conditions, he expressed hope for a positive outcome in the search.
Authorities have urged the public not to attempt independent search efforts, citing the dangers of winter weather and rough terrain, which could lead to additional risks for civilian searchers and potentially divert resources from the official operation.
Federal authorities, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), have been notified of the situation, and the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office is working to gather further information on the plane’s flight path.
