PENDLETON, Ore., June 13 (UPI) -- A plane crashed in eastern Oregon, killing two people and leaving a third missing, authorities say.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed two bodies were found in the wreckage, Portland's KPTV-TV reported, and a search continued for a third victim.

The three people were flying to Wyoming from Dallesport, Wash., when their aircraft went down about midnight Saturday.

The Oregon Civil Air Patrol reported the plane missing and launched a search team of five planes Sunday morning. The search and rescue team was reported to be at the crash site at 5:30 p.m.

There will be an investigation to come, the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board said.

Any word on the tail number yet? I'm wondering if it's a local pilot or someone enroute. Thoughts and prayers for the families....

Reported as as a Bellanca no other info yet.

This one, I assume. Not much in the way of details, yet.

http://www.kptv.com/news/28214666/detail.html

http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry ... ertxt=79BF

http://www.faa.gov/data_research/accide ... 1_79BF.txt

Crash victims have been identified. From Klickitat and Hermiston on their way to the college national finals rodeo.

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2011/06/three_killed_in_plane_crash_identified_as_woman_from_hermiston_two_washington_residents.html

I wonder what the weather was like at the time of this accident? And I wonder what the planned route was from The Dalles to Cody, WY? Looking up the route on Skyvector.com, it does look like they were possibly headed for the Boise area then possibly staying south of the mountains in Idaho. It's been cloudy and crappy most every night this last weekend in southwest Idaho with low ceilings. Not part of the country I'd care to fly in at night single engine VFR.

I did fly late evening once from the Arlington, WA Fly In to Caldwell. Started to get real dark past Baker. But at that point when your at 7.5 or higher, you can see the lights of Ontario, OR and then Boise pretty easy on a clear night like it was for me that time.

By the way, I'm not trying to be a speculator. Just curious what might have happened since that's a route I've flown a few times.

Weather was very nice during the day. Was in the Ukiah area bird watching until 4 pm. Severe clear most of the time. On the way back home to Pendleton, the black clouds to the south did not look nice. Cancelled the Harley trip to Baker City the next day. Can still snow/rain when it looks like that. Sunday AM, severe clear again. Missed a nice ride in the Snake River Gorge, but got the tomatoes planted.
Those mountains in the area are not all that high. Must maintain 7500 to get over most. No lights or roads in most of the area. Black sky and black ground. Mountain flying at night.
Last year a Bonanza went down in the general area.
ML