Crews searching for overdue plane that took off from Fillmore

FILLMORE — The Utah Civil Air Patrol was looking for a plane that disappeared Sunday after taking off from Fillmore.

The single engine Piper Archer II took off Sunday from California en route to Gillette, Wyo., according to a prepared statement from the Civil Air Patrol. The plane made a stop in Fillmore to refuel just before noon, according to the statement.

The Campbell County Sheriff's Department in Wyoming identified the missing pilot as Matthew Ahrens, 37, and the passengers as Trista Meyer, 34, and her 9-year-old daughter, Shyann Lenz, all from Gillette.

Authorities were alerted to the situation when Lenz's father called to report the little girl was overdue.

Lt. Stephen Miller, spokesman for the Utah Civil Air Patrol, said planes from Salt Lake City, Provo, Logan and St. George were participating in the search Tuesday, flying potential routes the plane could have taken over the mountainous terrain between Fillmore and the Wyoming border.

Ground searches also are being coordinated with sheriff's departments in the area, Miller said.

All searchers with the Civil Air Patrol are volunteers, Miller added. 

Additional details will be posted as they become available.

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Twitter: DNewsCrimeTeam, @McKenzieRomero