New Information Won't Alter Search Pattern

The search for a missing Cessna 177B Cardinal will likely continue, according to search coordinators, and the search area will not change despite new, potentially incriminating evidence uncovered concerning the pilot.

George Trupp, 53, dropped off radar Tuesday while flying over the Cascade Range from Twin Falls, ID to Renton, WA. As ANN reported, volunteer aircraft from the Washington Air Search and Rescue and the local Civil Air Patrol squadron resumed their search Thursday morning for a Cessna 177B Cardinal that dropped off radar Tuesday near Chinook Pass, WA.

According to the state Aviation Division, Trupp was the sole person on board.

Speculation has now arisen about his disappearance, according to the Yakima (WA) Herald-Republic. Trupp was scheduled to appear in Pierce County Superior Court this week on indecency charges, stemming from allegations he fondled a 20-year-old female babysitter. The paper also notes Trupp pleaded guilty in 1994 to communication with a minor for immoral purposes.

Air Force radar data indicated the rented plane was last seen in the area of Chinook Pass west of Yakima at noon on Tuesday. The last recorded altitude was 6,500 feet, headed for 7,000-foot mountain peaks. Volunteers are searching a 560-square-mile area around the pass east of Mount Rainier, Crystal Mountain and Bumping Lake.

"That's our entire focus. We have no reason to believe he is anywhere other than where the radar indicates," said Ralph Wilfong, deputy incident commander.

But, in what has been described as a "credible report", a witness from Moxee said he saw a low-flying Cessna matching the description of the missing aircraft in the foothills east of Cowiche, Wilfong said, and investigators are exploring that and other leads as well.

Officials contend this is still a search and rescue operation, not a criminal investigation.

Wilfong acknowledged radar data wouldn't be available if the Cessna was flown at lower altitudes, and the fact an ELT signal still hasn't been emitted could be due to the "notorious unreliability" of the emergency locator beacons.

"Honestly, I hope he just got tired and found a clearing a put down and maybe just decided not to come back," Trupp's son, Jim Trupp told KOMO TV News in Seattle.

The younger Trupp said that even though his dad had his pilot's license for a short time, he is an excellent pilot. He confirmed the elder Trupp took his dog with him on the Tuesday flight. Trupp's ex-wife told the Herald Republic her son told her Trupp had a two-year supply of dog food onboard.

"He should be fine and he's had a lot of survival training. He was in the Air Force," Jim said. "The only problem might be if like he's injured. I don't know what would happen if he got hurt."

Volunteers suspended their ground search due snow and rough terrain. Wilfong said another ground search will not be scheduled unless evidence of the aircraft is found.

Wilfong points out many aircraft have crashed in Washington State and some aren't found until years later -- and others aren't found at all.

"The landscape is littered with the bones of airplanes," Wilfong said. "These are big mountains and they are rugged. Small planes can disappear into them and not be found."

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.eskimo.com/~c180tom/, www.wawg.cap.gov