Pilot missing north of Seattle

[TangoWhiskey]

http://www.komonews.com/news/64007112.html

That's an Evektor SportStar in the picture behind him, but the article says the pilot was flying a red and white 1946 single-engine Taylorcraft. He was flying on Saturday, hasn't been seen since.

Here's a picture of the actual missing aircraft:

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/249484.html

 

[Ultrabuzzard]

And people wonder why they should file flight plans if they're just going putt-puttin around. I hope they find him.

 

[TangoWhiskey]

And people wonder why they should file flight plans if they're just going putt-puttin around. I hope they find him.

If you're just fartin around with no plan, "putt-puttin" as you put it, where would you file to? What would you put in your flight plan?

This guy didn't have a transponder or radio, so he can't request flight following, which would have been the natural choice for a local pleasure flight.

Other than that, a VFR flight plan for "local area" isn't going to help narrow a search area, unless he was more specific that he was intending to "fly SE and back within 10 miles" or something like that.

 

[AdamZ]

I think whether you should file a flight plan if your just farting around depends where you are farting around. South Eastern PA Nah, the guy whos living room you crash through will probably be able to tell SAR where you are. West Virgina or the Cascades or the UP you betcha. However Troy is correct if your just fartin where ya gonna file a flight plan too. I guess you could give general parameters.

 

[OtisAir]

Flight Plan delay's can be indicated on your routing... same if you were flying into K??? and wanted practice approaches and then onwards to your final destination. Check out D0+30

see HERE

 

[Ghery]

Latest word in the news is that he and the plane were seen in Westport (on the coast) and then headed NE. Search area has changed and they're staging out of OLM. Weather stinks for an aerial search, however.

 

[TangoWhiskey]

Latest word in the news is that he and the plane were seen in Westport (on the coast) and then headed NE. Search area has changed and they're staging out of OLM. Weather stinks for an aerial search, however.

Thanks for the update; that's a long way from Harvey Field in a non-radio airplane, put-putting around on a Saturday! (good for him)