Astoria, Ore. — After searching the Columbia River in Oregon for two days, divers on Friday found the bodies of two people killed when a small airplane crashed Wednesday, according to the Clatsop County Sheriff's Office.
Witnesses reported a reconditioned 1941 North American Military Trainer AT-6 crashed into the Columbia River about 1 mile north of Pier 39 around 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Deputies identified the plane's pilot as 69-year-old John McKibbin, of Vancouver, Washington. He was carrying a passenger at the time of the crash, identified as 63-year-old Irene Mustain, of Woodland, Washington.
"The two were on a short trip to Astoria to spread Irene's late husband's ashes in the Pacific Ocean when the plane apparently had trouble and crashed into the river," sheriff's deputies said.
Several small boats that were already in the area, a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and the Clatsop County Marine Patrol responded to the scene, where they found oil spots on the water. However, weather and the approaching nightfall prompted officials to call off the search until the following day.
Authorities combed the area on Thursday. Hampered by inclement weather, they were unable to fully explore the spot where they believed the crash happened.
On Friday morning, an eight-member dive team descended into the water. They found what appeared to be the scattered and broken wreckage of the plane, according to Clatsop County deputies.
Around 1:30 p.m., divers were able to recover McKibbin's body from the debris. Authorities located Mustain but "due to the tangled wreckage and position of the fuselage, she was unable to be retrieved," deputies said.
Divers planned to return to the site at a later date to recover Mustain's body.
Authorities notified both victims' families and said that "although sad, they are extremely grateful" their loved ones were located.
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