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Crashed plane found in Wetzel County

Cirrus SR20 aircraft was headed to Kentucky

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

The airplane 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 in Wetzel County, it appears the plane went down in a hilly area, crashing into a gully.

Koontz said the number of occupants on the plane is unknown. It is not believed there were any survivors of the crash.

While the sheriff’s department is securing the scene, the Federal Aviation Administration will be conducting the investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board does a follow-up investigation.

The Cirrus SR20, which had disappeared from radar, was discovered at approximately 2 p.m. Thursday, 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 arrived on scene, along with fire departments and 911 personnel from the surrounding counties.

At that time, Thomaschek said a dog and a couple, believed to be from Southern Illinois, were on the aircraft.

Thomaschek said 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 day.

Ground searches were conducted that day, along with a Drone search.

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

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

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