Rescuers Search Rockies for Missing Ontario Pilot

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CBC

Tue Sep 12, 10:30 am

Rescuers search Rockies for missing Ontario pilot

Rescue crews are looking for a man from Ontario who went missing on a flight from the interior of British Columbia to southern Alberta.

The pilot was identified late Monday as 62-year-old Ernie Hess. He recently bought the plane in 108 Mile House, B.C., and planned to fly it in stages to his home in Stratford, Ont., according to Capt. George Trattner of the Search and Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria.

Hess has 35 years of flying experience, but it was the first time he had flown this plane, according to Trattner.

The search began after Hess, the lone occupant of the aircraft, failed to arrive in Lethbridge, Alta., Saturday. Searchers could not detect a signal from an emergency locator transmitter.

Trattner said the plane was expected to pass through Calgary, but didn't show up there. The search has focused on a 32-kilometre wide band between 108 Mile House and Calgary.

The area is rugged and mountainous, making the search difficult. Hess's son was aboard one of the military search planes, hoping to help spot his father's plane.

Eight military planes and up to six civilian aircraft have been involved in the search.

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), September 12, 2000


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