The wreckage of a plane reported missing Wednesday night en route from Minden, Nev., to Tracy has been located in a rugged, snow-covered area of the Eldorado National Forest.
The Amador County Sheriff's Department, which oversaw the two-day search, reported that wreckage of the Lancair aircraft, owned and piloted by Robert Henderson "Budge" Brown Sr., of Gardnerville, Nev., was located about 3:45 p.m. by members of the department's Search and Rescue Nordic Team.
A body was recovered and is believed to be that of Brown, the only person on board the plane. However, officials said positive identification is pending and the cause of death will be determined during a forensic autopsy scheduled for Monday.
The aircraft was found south of Bear River Reservoir, north of Salt Springs Reservoir and west of Cole Creek in very rugged, snow-covered terrain, according to an Amador County Sheriff's Department news release. Officials said the aircraft was found by a ground team during an expanded search outside the initial search area.
The wreckage was strewn over an area of approximately 300 yards. The aircraft tail number and serial number were located among the wreckage, as were personal effects belonging to Brown, including his passport, officials said.
Brown was a businessman and winery owner, who founded the Oakwood Lake Resort in Manteca in the early 1980s.
He left Minden about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday en route to a private airstrip near Tracy, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. He was not in communication with or being tracked by air traffic controllers.
A family member reported the aircraft overdue about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, five hours after Brown left the airport for a flight that Civil Air Patrol Capt. Mark Scherzi said should have taken about 45 minutes.
Family members said Brown had flown the Minden-to-Tracy route 200 to 300 times.
KCRA: Pilot's son says he was unforgettable - May 20, 2011
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