Debris Found In Orchard After Small Plane Went Off Radar In Central California

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) -- Authorities have found aircraft debris scattered in a Bakersfield orchard hours after a small plane sent a mayday call and disappeared from radar.

Kern County Sheriff's Cmdr. Shaun Beasley said a search and rescue crew located the debris in the orchard around 7:30 p.m. Saturday, about three hours after receiving an alert from the FAA about the missing plane.

Beasley said he couldn't confirm if the debris was that of the missing plane, noting that the plane's tail number has not been found.

He said searchers have not found any survivor.

FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said a single-engine Piper PA32 went off radar around 4 p.m. Saturday while flying from Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose to Henderson Executive Airport in Las Vegas.

Beasley said crews will search through the night.