Search for missing plane moves south

Summary

Officials say information from radar and witnesses suggest that Gordon Last may have landed in Westport before taking off and disappearing over the weekend.

Story Published: Oct 14, 2009 at 9:12 AM PST

Story Updated: Oct 14, 2009 at 12:38 PM PST

Search for missing plane moves south

Gordon Last

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The search for a pilot last seen when he took off from an airport in Snohomish has shifted to the south, after reports that his plane was seen in Westport, Wash..

Gordon Last left Saturday in his single-engine Taylorcraft from Harvey Field in Snohomish and was expected to return that day. He hasn't been seen since.

Last, 51, did not file a flight plan and his plane does not have an emergency locator or transponder.

Search crews spent the weekend flying over areas of Snohomish County looking for him, but State Department of Transportation spokeswoman Nisha Marvel said Wednesday that radar information and tips from witnesses suggest that Last may have Landed in Westport on Saturday.

Marvel said people reported seeing Last walk into town in Westport before taking off later that evening and heading northeast.

Searchers are covering a 1,900-square-mile area in Grays Harbor, Thurston and Lewis Counties.

Marvel said crews are staging at the Olympia Airport waiting for a break in the weather to resume search flights.

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Anyone with information about Last or his missing white and red Taylorcraft plane is asked to contact searchers at missingaircraft@wsdot.wa.gov or 360-410-0461.