Searchers find plane wreckage
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Wreckage discovered Saturday is believed to be that of a small plane that was reported missing a week ago, a Civil Air Patrol spokeswoman in Chino said.
“There is a debris field,” said Capt. Andrea Binder. “All the characteristics match the aircraft we’re looking for. The Sheriff’s Department will have to physically go in” today.
A six-seat Cessna departed from Bermuda Dunes Airport near Indio on Feb. 2 and was last recorded entering the San Gorgonio Pass, which separates the San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountain ranges.
The aircraft was carrying Michael Bybyk, 75, and Joyce Bybyk, 70, both of Fullerton; Alvin Baker, 79, of Chino; and Gail Pugel, 68, of Ontario.
Civil Air Patrol officials didn’t begin their search until the daughter of one of the passengers reported him missing Thursday, Binder said.
Since then, 70 air patrol officials conducted 45 missions in search of the passengers and pilot. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, which also participated in the search, found the wreckage Saturday.
-- Jean-Paul Renaud
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