Bodies Of North Bay Couple Whose Plane Went Missing In Sierra Nevadas Recovered

NORTH BAY, CA -- The bodies have been found of a Sonoma County couple whose single-engine plane went missing nearly over month ago en route from Truckee to Petaluma.

The bodies of Brenda Richard and her husband, Mark Richard, were discovered Thursday, May 18 near the wreckage of their plane, buried in six to seven feet of snow.

Brenda Richard, 53, the pilot, and her husband Mark Richard, 54, left the Truckee-Tahoe Airport in Truckee in their blue and white Socata TB-20 Trinidad plane at 4 p.m. April 17 and were due to arrive that evening, but never did.

Sierra County Sheriff Tim Standley said a recreational snowmobiler discovered a section of the plane in the snow on Tuesday, May 16, and that the tail portion of the plane was found the morning of May 17.

After the plane went missing, Civil Air Patrol crews from both California and Nevada searched for the plane and the couple for six days to no avail. More than 117 CAP volunteers, 15 CAP aircraft and 12 CAP vehicles participated in the search.

The California Highway Patrol and California National Guard also searched under the command of the Sierra County Sheriff's Office.

A preliminary investigation has concluded that the plane may have struck a tree, split apart and that the engine and cockpit were flung deep into the snow. Later snowfall then encased the cockpit in snow, Standley said.

The Richards have four daughters, and officials say that family members have been notified of the discovery.

“Our hearts go out to the Richards, to their friends who have called for information, to the family,” Standley said. “It’s a great tragedy.”

Previous coverage:

• Search Suspended For Plane That Went Missing En Route From Truckee To Petaluma
• Small Plane Bound For Petaluma Goes Missing

Images via Richard family, Civil Air Patrol