Authorities are actively searching an area near Little Mountain, southwest of Rock Springs, Wyoming, after a “ground disturbance” was detected during efforts to locate a missing pilot and his single-engine aircraft.
The search involves multiple agencies and resources, including helicopters and ground crews, as officials prioritize a safe and thorough investigation.
The Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office reported that a Utah Air National Guard Apache helicopter, deployed Tuesday evening, located a potential area of interest during its nighttime search. This discovery prompted an intensified search effort early Wednesday morning. Ground crews were deployed to the site at 6 a.m., supported by the Wyoming Civil Air Patrol and a Wyoming Army National Guard Huey helicopter equipped with emergency medical and hoist capabilities.
The missing pilot, a man in his 50s from Green River, Wyoming, departed Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport near Rock Springs at 6:08 a.m. on Tuesday aboard a Piper Comanche. Flight data indicates the aircraft’s tracking ceased just 14 minutes later, at 6:22 a.m. The plane was en route to California but failed to reach its destination.
Local law enforcement received a missing persons report at 1:22 p.m. Tuesday, prompting an immediate and intensive search effort. Adverse weather conditions, including cloud cover and rugged terrain, forced ground and aerial teams to suspend their efforts briefly on Tuesday evening before resuming with enhanced support overnight.
The sheriff’s office has urged the public to refrain from conducting independent searches in the area, citing concerns about safety and potential interference with official operations. Unauthorized individuals could face legal consequences, as the scene must remain undisturbed to preserve its integrity for National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators in the event of a crash.
Cowboy State Daily and Cap City News contributed to this report.
