CASPER, Wyo. — The body of the pilot found deceased at the site of a private airplane crash in remote terrain on Tuesday has been recovered, the Natrona County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday evening.
The identity of the deceased victim will be released by the Natrona County Coroner’s Office once their investigation is complete and next of kin is notified.
The cause of the airplane crash is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.
“The Natrona County Sheriff’s Office is deeply saddened for the family and loved ones of the victim; we extend our heartfelt condolences to them during this difficult time,” the release said.
The pilot was the sole occupant, the NCSO said.
Around 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday, a private aircraft company alerted the Casper Public Safety Communication Center that it had lost contact with the aircraft and provided the last known coordinates, the NCSO release said.
The multi-agency search-and-rescue operation was immediately launched using both air and ground resources.
Fire and EMS personnel responded to an immediate staging area on Bolton Creek Road, an area near the general SAR operation.
Private search planes located an aircraft matching the description of the missing aircraft around 7:30 p.m.
As night fell, a Wyoming Army National Guard Blackhawk Helicopter arrived to continue the search with specialized equipment.
A command post location was then established on Kortes Road, where Fire and EMS personnel were staged.
The Blackhawk confirmed the location of a downed aircraft and transported two NCSO personnel to traverse into the heavily wooded and remote terrain.
They arrived at the crashed aircraft, which had one confirmed deceased individual on board.
