The plane took off on Tuesday night but it wasn't reported missing Thursday morning, police said.
SOMERSET -- A 62-year-old Chester Township man was killed in a small aircraft crash that wasn't discovered until Thursday afternoon, police said.
The plane, which took off Tuesday night, wasn't reported missing until Thursday morning, Bedminster police chief Craig Meyer said.
Bedminster police, assisted by the New Jersey State Police and NorthStar, began an aerial search for the aircraft at approximately 9 a.m. Thursday in response to a missing person complaint, Meyer said. The plane was located at 12:45 p.m., he said.
"Absolutely, it was challenging to locate," Meyer said. "It was a small single-engine plane. Here in Bedminster, we have very rural areas. This is a very small and remote airport. There was a lot of wooded area to search. Bedminster covers 27 square miles and the airport is on the western border."
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Meyer said the Federal Aviation Administration has to investigate the crash but he believes it occurred when the aircraft was trying to land.
Authorities have not yet released the pilot's identity pending family notification.
The pilot's son-in-law told News 12 New Jersey he was an experienced pilot. According to the report, the pilot was the sole occupant of the plane.
According to the FAA, the plane, a Lake LA-4-250, was found near the airport. It departed from the airport at 9:45 p.m. on Tuesday and was reported missing early Thursday, the FAA said.
After the initial investigation by local authorities, the FAA will conduct an investigation, the agency said. organization said. The National Transportation Safety Board will also investigate, the FAA said.
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com.Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook