ELT Signal Sparks Fruitless Search In Washington State

At least four pilots flying from the Puget Sound area heard it -- an emergency beacon signal at about 1300 local Tuesday.  The ELT signal sparked a widespread search near Haystack Mountain in western Washington. But at dusk Tuesday, the search was called off.

The signal was not only heard by passing commercial pilots, but was picked up by a satellite, according to state officials. Several aircraft and about 80 searchers scoured the area east of Sultan, WA for more than five hours before giving up.

"The weather is warm, although there is a cloud cover," said Thomas Peterson, Washington's aviation emergency services coordinator. He was quoted by the  Everett Daily Herald. "For this time this year, it's fairly good searching conditions, at least until dark. The only thing we don't have is snow and rain right now, so this is good weather, other than the fact we can't see the top."

Shortly after searchers pulled out of the area around Sultan, Peterson said an ELT signal was traced to the nearby Monroe Airport. It was apparently switched on accidentally.

There was no immediate word whether the search for a missing aircraft near Haystack Mountain would resume on Wednesday.

FMI: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Aviation/SAR/default.htm