Authorities on Wednesday confirmed the airplane found crashed 21 miles east of Mahnomen in northwest Minnesota was the one flown by Andrew Lindberg, 32, Farmington.
Lindberg's body was located in the downed airplane and he was pronounced dead at the scene, the Clearwater County Attorney's office said in a news release.
The airplane was found by a private pilot in a densely wooded area about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Because of low light conditions late Tuesday, authorities decided against a ground search of the crash site.
About 7:30 a.m., a State Patrol helicopter flew over the crash site and directed Clearwater County Sheriff's deputies, Bagley Police officers and Civil Air Patrol members to the location. Family members were present at the scene, Clearwater County Attorney Jeanine Brand said.
Major Al Pabon of the Civil Air Patrol's Minnesota Wing said the site was secured by the Clearwater Sheriff's Department and the investigation into the crash was being conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration.
"It's a sad day," said Pabon. "It's very sad. We do extend sympathies to the family."
Lindberg was flying Friday in a PA-28 Piper Cherokee from Lakeville to Hallock in northwest Minnesota to deer hunt with his family.
The last contact Lindberg had with anyone was a text message sent to a family member from the Staples area and Civil Air Patrol crews on the ground and in the air focused their search in the area.
During the four-day search for Lindberg about 400 Civil Air Patrol members from Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota - including ground team members and pilots in 18 search aircraft - were involved in the search. Also included in the search were the State Patrol and DNR helicopters. The Civil Air Patrol's base of operations for the search was Crow Wing Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol at Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport.
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