Search Has Been Hampered By Bad Weather

A Cessna 172 went missing in South Dakota last Wednesday and has become the focus of an extensive air and land search along its route of flight.

The Grand Forks Herald reports that the aircraft, N4683B, departed Aberdeen Regional Airport (KABR) in South Dakota Wednesday night en route to Oakes, North Dakota. The plane never arrived at its destination.

FAA records indicate that the aircraft is registered to Gerald Seliski of Hecla, SD.

The plane departed KABR between 10 and 10:30 local time Wednesday, according to a release from Brown County, SD Emergency Management. The pilot was the only person on board the airplane. When the plane failed to arrive at its destination, a ground search was conducted until dark on Thursday, according to Scott Meints, director of emergency management. An air search was suspended due to a snow storm which moved through the area and continued through Saturday. The Associated Press reports that Air Force helicopters were able to resume the air search on Sunday.

Anyone with any information about the missing aircraft is asked to call the Brown County dispatch office at 605-626-7911.

(Image of missing aircraft posted to Facebook by the Brown County, SD Sheriff's Office)

FMI: Source report