Coast Guard suspends active search for missing pilot, aircraft

The Coast Guard suspended its active search Tuesday at 9:30 a.m., for an overdue aircraft in the vicinity of Nauset Beach, Massachusetts, pending new information.

Coast Guard crews searched a total of 55 hours covering more than 2,076 square miles with no sign of missing pilot or aircraft.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England received a report at 10:34 p.m., Sunday, from the Air Force Regional Command Center reporting a possible downed, white and beige, Piper 28 aircraft four miles east of Sampson Island. The original call was made to the Air Force Regional Command Center by a concerned friend who was waiting for the aircraft and occupant at Chatham Airport. The Air Force then contacted the Coast Guard command center.

The aircraft’s last transmitted transponder signal was at 6:49 p.m. descending at 4,000 feet per minute.

Involved in the search were:

Coast Guard Station Chatham 45-foot response boat crew
Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, MH-60 Jayhawk crew
Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, HC-144 Ocean Sentry fixed-wing crew
Coast Guard Cutter Spencer (WMEC 905) crew
Coast Guard Cutter Sanibel (WPB 1312) crew
Coast Guard Cutter Tybee (WPB 1330) crew
Chatham Harbormaster
Harwich Harbormaster
Orleans Harbor Master
Two additional local assets, including towboat

Weather on scene at the time of the call was 3 to 6-foot seas with 15 mph winds.

If anyone has new information regarding this case, please call Sector Southeastern New England at 508-457-3211.