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Pilot Found Dead In Wreckage Of Plane Crash In Point Reyes

POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE (CBS SF) -- The pilot of a small plane was killed when it crashed in the rugged backwoods area of the Point Reyes National Seashore, authorities said.

Search teams discovered the wreckage Friday after crews began searching the area following an emergency signal received by the Coast Guard.

FAA Public Affairs manager Ian Gregor said the plane -- with only the pilot onboard -- was reported overdue while flying from Santa Ynez to Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa Thursday afternoon.

A massive search effort was launched including teams from the National Park Service, the Marin County Sheriff's Department and other local agencies after 'a ping' from an electronic emergency signal was transmitted to the Coast Guard around 1 p.m. Thursday.

John Dell'Osso, Chief of Interpretation and Resource Education at Point Reyes National Seashore, said the Coast Guard searched two miles offshore but nothing was found.

The teams continued their effort until early Friday in the rugged, wooded area in west Marin and then took a break until daybreak.

A heavy fog layer prevented the use of aircraft Friday morning so the effort consisted of about 30 searchers on foot. Two other pings were detected and searchers were focusing a specific area of the massive park.

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