HARRISON COUNTY, TX (KLTV) -
The search continues in Wyoming for a plane that's registered to an East Texan that went off the radar Tuesday night.
Crews are searching for a 2005 Piper-PA-32 that took off from the Harrison County Airport bound for Casper, Wyoming, that did not arrive as planned Tuesday night.
According to Federal Aviation Administration, the last known position of the aircraft was approximately 60 miles southeast of Casper. Preliminary information indicates four people were on board.
The FAA investigation is paused until the plane is located. An FAA spokesperson says the investigation is now led by the Wyoming Civil Air Patrol and the Wyoming National Guard.
Officials say 40 people are searching in the area of the Laramie Peak by ground. They're checking ridgelines and bowl areas of the mountain itself. The search is taking place approximately 9700 feet above sea level.
Search crews are now working under the assumption that the plane is downed.
Two planes from Wyoming Civil Air Patrol and one U.S. Air Force helicopter are assisting in the search by air.
The search resumed Thursday morning by land, as weather is affecting attempts to search by air.
Converse County Sheriff Clint Becker says Civil Air Patrol was searching Tuesday night, primarily over the Medicine Bow National Forest, which is where Converse, Platte, and Albany Counties come together.
The airplane is registered to a man in Marshall, Texas.
The Albany County Sheriff's Office says the four occupants of the plane were traveling to Wyoming for business.
The search has turned up nothing so far.
We will bring you updates on this developing story. Stay tuned to KLTV 7 and KLTV.com.
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The missing plane.
Laramie Peak. (Source: Google Earth)
