Two men have been found dead following a plane crash in Washington state during a flight from Penticton to Idaho.
The plane was reported missing on Saturday after the pilot’s daughter contacted the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office when it did not arrive as planned in Grangeville, Idaho.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Aviation Emergency Services team began searching from the plane’s last known radar location.
WSDOT eventually located the plane Sunday evening and identified the two men as 61-year-old Nicholas Grachanin and passenger Jim Merik. Both were found dead inside the aircraft.
The department said the men’s families had been notified.
“On behalf of the search and rescue team, WSDOT extends our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives. We are thankful to everyone who contributed their time, expertise and resources to this search effort,” said WSDOT Air Search and Rescue Coordinator and Incident Commander Tom Peterson.
