The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the circumstances of the downed plane discovered on Mount Hood Tuesday, Jan. 29.
The Hood River County Sheriff's office announced the plane belonged to George Regis, a man from Battle Ground, Washington, who was previously reported missing.
The plane authorities found crashed on Mount Hood is pictured in this undated photo.
Courtesy of the Clark County Sheriff's Office
NTSB Public Affairs Officer Peter Knudson said the investigation will include looking into the pilot, the aircraft, the operating environment — such as the weather — and other factors. He said finding causation will take some time.
“The whole process can take 12 to 24 months,” Knudson said. “So it will be some time until we get to the probable cause.”
An investigator with NTSB will be writing up a preliminary report to address initial facts. That will be issued in the coming weeks, Knudson said. “We’ll have something out fairly quickly on the basic factual information that we have surrounding the accident."
Regis, 63, was last seen departing Grove Field Airport in Camas, Washington, en route to Arizona on Jan. 25. His wife reported him missing Jan. 28.
Members of the Hood River Crag Rats, Oregon Air National Guard and the Air Force recovered Regis’ body Wednesday. He was the plane’s sole occupant.