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Aircraft Discovered Near Jacksonburg

By Staff | Sep 7, 2017

Personnel from Bridgeport's Department of Emergency Management had a command center set-up at the top of Fallen Timber, a mountainous area in Wetzel County. (Photo by Ed Parsons)

7:34 P.M., SEPT. 7 UPDATE:

Wetzel County Sheriff Mike Koontz reported Thursday evening that his department was securing the scene where a Cirrus SR20 aircraft crashed.

The plane was discovered in a mountainous area near Jacksonburg, in Wetzel County, by ground crews.

According to personnel at a command center, located at the top of Fallen Timber Road, it appears the plane went down in a hilly area, further crashing into a gully.

Sheriff Koontz said the number of occupants, on the plane, is unknown at this time. It is not believed that there were any survivors of the crash.

While the sheriff’s department is securing the scene, the FAA will be conducting the investigation. The NTSB does a follow-up investigation.

The Cirrus SR20, which had disappeared from radar, was discovered at approximately 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7, according to a statement from the FAA.

Earlier on Thursday, according to Connie Thomaschek, assistant chief from Harrison County 911, personnel from multiple agencies were on the search.

Thomaschek said Mountain Area Rescue Group had arrived on scene, along with fire departments and 911 personnel from the surrounding counties.

At that time, Thomaschek confirmed there was a dog and couple, believed to be from Southern Illinois, on the aircraft.

Thomaschek had confirmed that a last cell phone “ping” showed coordinates between Wallace, in Harrison County, and Fallen Timber, in Wetzel County. Thomaschek described the area as “pretty broad.”

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Harrison County Sheriff Robert Matheny said Harrison County’s 911 Office of Emergency Services received information — concerning a plane that had disappeared from radar — at approximately 9:30 a.m. that morning.

Ground searches had been conducted that day, along with a drone search.

Authorities had also requested Civil Air Patrol assistance, which had arrived on scene Wednesday evening.

The FAA reported on Wednesday, Sept. 6 that the aircraft departed Delaware Coastal Airport in Georgetown, DE on Tuesday. It was heading to Fleming-Mason Airport in Flemingsburg, Kentucky.

5:11 P.M., SEPT. 7 UPDATE:

According to a statement, from a representative with the FAA, a missing Cirrus SR20 aircraft has been discovered in a mountainous area near Jacksonburg, in Wetzel County.

The Cirrus SR20, which had disappeared from radar, was discovered at approximately 2 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 7.

According to the FAA, its agency will further investigate, and the NTSB will determine the cause of the accident.

The aircraft departed from Delaware Coastal Airport in Georgetown, DE September 5 and was heading to Fleming-Mason Airport in Flemingsburg, KY.

On Wednesday, Harrison County Sheriff Robert Matheny said Harrison County’s 911 Office of Emergency Services received information at approximately 9:30 a.m., Wednesday morning, regarding the missing aircraft.

Matheny said yesterday evening that ground searches had been conducted that day, along with a drone search.

Authorities had also requested Civil Air Patrol assistance, which had arrived on scene Wednesday evening.

According to Connie Thomaschek, assistant chief from Harrison County 911, personnel from multiple agencies were on the search Thursday morning.

At that time, Thomaschek confirmed there was a dog and couple, believed to be from Southern Illinois, on the aircraft.

No information has yet been provided on the status of the couple and the dog.

11:36 A.M., Sept. 7 UPDATE:

According to Connie Thomaschek, assistant chief from Harrison County 911, personnel from multiple agencies are on the search for an aircraft last known to be located near the Wetzel/Harrison county line.

Thomaschek confirmed there was a dog and couple, believed to be from Southern Illinois, on the aircraft, but she said authorities were not releasing names at this time.

Thomaschek said air search, along with ground search, is underway. She said multiple agencies from Harrison, Marion, and Wetzel counties are searching.

Jay Jenkins, chief of Wallace Volunteer Fire Department, agreed that “everything is working together,” in the search endeavor.

Thomaschek said Mountain Area Rescue Group has arrived on scene, along with fire departments and 911 personnel from the surrounding counties.

Thomaschek confirmed that a last cell phone “ping” showed coordinates between Wallace, in Harrison County, and Fallen Timber, in Wetzel County. Thomaschek described the area as “pretty broad.”

According to a Wednesday morning statement from the Federal Aviation Administration, the aircraft is a Cirrus SR20.

Thomaschek said the aircraft was equipped with a parachute.

The FAA had noted that the aircraft departed Delaware Coastal Airport in Georgetown, DE yesterday. It was heading to Fleming-Mason Airport in Flemingsburg, Kentucky.

On Wednesday, Harrison County Sheriff Robert Matheny said Harrison County’s 911 Office of Emergency Services received information at approximately 9:30 a.m., Wednesday morning, regarding the aircraft, which had disappeared from radar.

Matheny said yesterday evening that ground searches had been conducted that day, along with a drone search.

Authorities had also requested Civil Air Patrol assistance, which had arrived on scene Wednesday evening.

6:48 P.M., Sept. 6 UPDATE:

According to Harrison County Sheriff Robert Matheny, there are very few concrete facts, at this time, in regards to the status of an aircraft that was last known to be located near the Wetzel/Harrison county line.

According to a Wednesday morning statement from the Federal Aviation Administration, the aircraft is a Cirrus SR20. It is presumed that the aircraft has crashed, and that there are two people on board.

The aircraft’s last known position is approximately 23 miles northwest of Clarksburg. The aircraft departed from Delaware Coastal Airport in Georgetown, DE yesterday. It was heading to Fleming-Mason Airport in Flemingsburg, Kentucky.

According to Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff Mike Koontz, the sheriff’s department is aware of the situation and is offering assistance as needed.

Harrison County Sheriff Matheny said Harrison County’s 911 Office of Emergency Services received information at approximately 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, regarding the aircraft.

Matheny said, based on the call, volunteer fire departments and the county’s 911 center joined forces and set up a command post at the Wallace Volunteer Fire Department.

“We did some ground searches. We had a drone and did some searches in the area and around the county line, to try to locate the aircraft.”

Matheny said the sheriff department’s detective unit has conducted a search regarding who the owner of the aircraft is, the tail number on the craft, and the craft’s last known position on the radar.

Matheny said that efforts to locate the plane have been unsuccessful.

Authorities have also requested Civil Air Patrol assistance, which arrived on scene Wednesday evening.

“They have an aircraft in the air now,” Matheny said Wednesday evening. The sheriff said the patrol was attempting to locate the craft, which “could be anywhere.”

“The aircraft was headed north from Harrison County, toward Wetzel County.”

Matheny said the West Virginia State Police had used a helicopter to search Wetzel County. Meanwhile, Harrison County has also coordinated efforts with Marion County to search the “Five Points” area that that encompasses Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Wetzel, and Tyler counties.

“We are going to suspend the ground search at dark,” Sheriff Matheny said.

Matheny said the search would resume, and responders would regroup.

ORIGINAL STORY: According to the Federal Aviation Administration, authorities are conducting a search for a Cirrus SR20 aircraft in Wetzel County, West Virginia.

Authorities presume that the aircraft has crashed, according to the FAA. There are two people on board.

The aircraft’s last known position is approximately 23 miles northwest of Clarksburg. The aircraft departed from Delaware Coastal Airport in Georgetown, DE yesterday. It was heading to Fleming-Mason Airport in Flemingsburg, Kentucky.

According to Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff Mike Koontz, the sheriff’s department is aware of the situation and is offering assistance as needed.