NPS Continues to Search for Possible Downed Plane in Grand Canyon National Park

Date: March 18, 2011
Contact: Shannan Marcak, 928-638-7958
Contact: Maureen Oltrogge, 928-638-7779

Grand Canyon, Ariz. – The National Park Service (NPS) is continuing to search approximately 600 square miles of rugged backcountry for a possible downed plane in Grand Canyon National Park. 

On Sunday, March 13, the NPS received a report that a general aviation pilot had detected an activated emergency locator transmitter (also known as an ELT) approximately 30 miles northwest of Grand Canyon Village in the vicinity of the Fossil Corridor. The park's helicopter was dispatched to fly the area, but did not find any signs of a downed plane nor did it detect the ELT. Because no corresponding report of a missing plane could be found, the search was called off at that point.

 On Monday, March 14, the Coconino County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) contacted the NPS about a missing person – 47-year old Joseph Radford of Glendale, Arizona. In the course of their investigations, the sheriff's office had determined that Mr. Radford owned a red, RV6 homebuilt, experimental aircraft which was also missing and that Mr. Radford's plane was seen at Grand Canyon Airport shortly after 8:30 a.m. on Friday, March 11. Because the disappearance of Mr. Radford and his plane may be connected to the ELT activation, search efforts were resumed.

Based on radar tracking information obtained from the town at Grand Canyon Airport last Friday, the NPS helicopter concentrated search efforts on Monday in the Scorpion Ridge area, an area located in the vicinity of the Dragon Corridor. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the park's helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft both flew search patterns in the Fossil Corridor and Scorpion Ridge areas with no success. Meanwhile, the CCSO continued their investigations and began contacting backpackers known to have been to these areas to see if anyone had seen or heard the plane on Friday.

The NPS has used both a fixed-wing airplane and helicopter in search efforts over the last several days. Primarily the fixed-wing has been used to reacquire the ELT signal and visual reconnaissance of upper rim areas. The helicopter has focused its efforts below the rim in side canyons and rough terrain looking for visual clues. To date, these efforts have not provided any further clues.

Search efforts will continue over the next few days based on the probable areas determined by the original ELT signal, as weather and wind conditions allow.  Today's efforts will focus in the northwest zone of the search area around Fish Tail Mesa and Great Thumb Mesa.

Joseph Radford is described as a 47-year old white male, with blue eyes, graying hair and a receding hairline. He is 5'11" tall and weighs approximately 190 pounds. His plane is described as an RV6 Kit Built, cherry red airplane with tail number N650RV.

If you believe that you have seen Mr. Radford or his aircraft since Friday, March 11, at 8:30 a.m., please contact the National Park Service at 928-638-7805. (Media should continue to contact the Grand Canyon Public Affairs office at 928-638-7958 or 928-638-7779.)

The National Park Service is leading joint search operations with the Coconino County Sheriff's Office. Both agencies are grateful to the Civil Air Patrol for their invaluable assistance with investigations including radar and ELT analysis.

                                           -NPS-