Wreckage Found After 12 Hour Search

The crash of a Cessna 182 carrying four people touched off a 12-hour search as recovery crews chased the downed aircraft's transponder signal through the hills of Southern California early Monday.

The bodies of the pilot and his three passengers, all from Palmdale, were reportedly on their way to Harris Ranch, a popular fly-in restaurant, when the aircraft impacted a hillside near Lebec (CA).

The victims were identified as:

• 50-year old Shelby Morris
• Peter Wenzel, 57
• Peter Gayed, 38
• Kim Bea Wachtel, 43

NTSB investigator George Peterson told reporters the 182 (file photo of type, below)changed course just before the accident. He surmised that the pilot had decided to return to Fox Field in Lancaster after learning that his trip was blocked by fog shrouding a mountain pass.

The plane's ELT was activated in the crash, leading Kern County rescue workers on a 12-hour trek in search of the wreckage. The bodies were recovered approximately 24 hours after the accident.

FAA Preliminary Accident Report

IDENTIFICATION
 Regis#: 95902    Make/Model: C182   Description: 182, Skylane
 Date: 10/31/2004   Time: 2330

 Event Type: Accident  Highest Injury: Fatal   Mid Air: N  Missing: N
 Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
 City: LEBEC            State: CA  Country: US

DESCRIPTION
 ACFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE FOUR PERSONS ON BOARD WERE
 FATALLY INJURED AND THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED, FORT TEJON, LEBEC, CA

INJURY DATA   Total Fatal:  4
         # Crew:  1  Fat:  1   Ser:  0   Min:  0   Unk: 
         # Pass:   3  Fat:  3   Ser:  0   Min:  0   Unk: 
         # Grnd:       Fat:  0   Ser:  0   Min:  0   Unk: 

WEATHER: NOT REPORTED

OTHER DATA
 Activity: Pleasure   Phase: Unknown   Operation: General Aviation

 Departed: UNK             Dep Date:  Dep. Time:  
 Destination: UNK           Flt Plan: UNK     Wx Briefing: U
 Last Radio Cont: UNK
 Last Clearance: UNK

 FAA FSDO: FRESNO, CA (WP17)          Entry date: 11/02/2004

FMI: www.ntsb.gov