Missing Plane Wreckage Found on Mt. Hood; Pilot Presumed Dead

MOUNT HOOD, OR — A Battle Ground pilot missing since last Friday’s departure from Grove Field is presumed dead after authorities discovered his plane’s wreckage on Mt. Hood, authorities said today.

George Regis, 63, a veteran pilot, took off from Grove Field Airport in Fern Prairie on January 25 in a four-person, single engine plane. The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office said he was the only person in the plane, which was en route to Arizona.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Civil Air Patrol received a signal from the plane’s emergency locator in the area of Eliot Glacier, on the northeast side of Mount Hood.

CAP confirmed the tail number of the plane matched the aircraft that was registered to Regis. An Oregon Air National Guard helicopter crew said they discovered a body, as well, which is believed to be Regis, according to the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office.

They also reported that they found a new flight plan that would have taken him around Mt. Hood, which greatly assisted in their search.

The authorities also confirmed that a recovery operation will begin on Wednesday morning.