Civil Air Patrol Search Team Locates Missing Plane. Two People Rescued

PALM SPRINGS – A Civil Air Patrol Ground Search and Rescue Team reached the site of a small plane late Monday night.

The team along with a ranger from the National Park, reached the crash site after an all-day air and ground search.

They found the plane upside down in snow. Crews rescued the two people who were trapped in the aircraft and suffering from injuries in the crash.

They were airlifted via helicopter to Desert Regional Medical Center.

The Cessna, carrying a pilot and student,was scheduled to land at 8Monday morning en route from Twentynine Palms. The plane’s last reported contact was9 miles northeastof Palm Springs.

Before disappearing the pilot indicated they were running into weather, and requested to be tracked by Palm Springs radar. After that transmission, they disappeared.

Civil Air Patrol says they received an emergency beacon signal, putting the plane somewhere in Joshua Tree National Park.

Heavy rain in the area has halted all search and rescue aircraft, so sheriff’s crews are sending in a ground unit to work with volunteer forces at Quail Mountain inside the national park area.

Stay with News Channel 3 and KESQ.com for the latest on this developing story.