Missing pilot's body found in wreckage

Star Tribune

Last update: November 19, 2009 - 12:22 AM

Searchers found the body of Andrew Lindberg Wednesday in the wreckage of his single-engine plane that had disappeared on Friday.

They had headed out at first light to examine the wreckage, which had been spotted in a remote area of Clearwater County Tuesday afternoon.

According to County Attorney Jeanine Brand, a State Patrol helicopter pilot directed searchers to the scene of the crash.

Members of Lindberg's family had gone to the scene, where he was identified.

The remote, wooded area about 20 miles east of Mahnomen was difficult to reach because it is accessible only by way of a snowmobile trail.

Lindberg, a novice pilot from Farmington, was flying toward Hallock Friday when his plane vanished.

According to Mahnomen County Sheriff Doug Krier, a private pilot from Walker, Minn., spotted something near the border with Mahnomen County about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The pilot flew to Mahnomen, picked up the county's chief deputy sheriff, and they confirmed the presence of a tail fin, Krier said.

By the time they returned to Mahnomen it was dark, ruling out a closer search until Wednesday morning.

Lindberg, 32, earned his pilot's license a few months ago and was headed to Hallock to go deer hunting. He left Airlake Airport near Lakeville about 5 p.m. for the 400-mile flight, scheduled to arrive at 8 p.m.

BOB VON STERNBERG

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