Overdue plane bound for Lynden remains missing

OLYMPIA, Wash. – An overdue private plane headed for Lynden remained missing Monday morning following a day-long search Sunday.

The Department of Transportation said the small plane carrying three people left western Montana about 4 p.m. Saturday and was due in Lynden at 7 p.m.

When the plane didn't arrive, authorities began an investigation.

The Department of Transportation identified the people onboard the plane as Leland Bowman, 62, and Sharon Bowman, 63, of Marion, Montana, and their step-granddaughter Autumn Veatch, 16, of Bellingham. Initial information had suggested Veatch also lived in Montana.

The last cell phone signal from one of the plane's occupants was detected near Omak. The search is centering south of Mount Baker along the intended flight plan. The plane is described as a white and red Beech 35 aircraft.

Volunteers from the Civil Air Patrol and Washington Air Search and Rescue are assisting WSDOT Aviation Emergency Services with the search. An incident command has been set up in Bellingham, near the airport.

"I hope everybody's safe," said David Veatch, father of the missing 16-year-old. "I'm just kind of a little bit of a nervous wreck."

Searchers say they look for the smallest clues including a flash or spec of light, or a color that's not supposed to be there.

"It can be very much like a needle in a haystack," said Lowell Silver of the Civil Air Patrol.

The search efforts were suspended at dusk Sunday but crews plan to resume their search Monday morning.