x
Breaking News
More () »

Wreckage of missing plane, pilot's body found near Snoqualmie Pass

The plane took off from Arlington Municipal Airport on Sunday afternoon, but never arrived at its destination in Ephrata.

ARLINGTON, Wash. — Ground search crews found the wreckage of a plane that went missing Sunday night just west of Snoqualmie Pass.

The plane, piloted by 69-year-old Jerry Riedinger, was found near Humpback Mountain around 1:30 p.m. on Monday. Riedinger was found dead inside the plane, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

Riedinger took off from the Arlington Municipal Airport around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. His wife reported him missing around 6 p.m. after he did not arrive in Ephrata. 

Riedinger was flying a 2001 Extra Flugzeugbau 300/L plane designed for aerobatics or stunts. There was an aerobatic gathering in Ephrata over the weekend.

No communication from the aircraft was recorded since it left Arlington. 

Search crews, coordinated by WSDOT's Air Search and Rescue, focused on the area near Humpback Mountain off Interstate 90 based on cellphone flight data. 

The crash site was discovered around 1:30 p.m. on Monday.

More than 220 people assisted in the search efforts between Sunday evening and Monday afternoon.

Download our free KING 5 app to stay up-to-date on news stories from across western Washington.

For a daily roundup of everything you need to know for across western Washington, sign up for our 5 Things to Know email newsletter. 

Before You Leave, Check This Out