Hood Canal-area plane crash kills 4, including children

Four died in a small plane crash in the northern Hood Canal area.

>> PHOTOS: Wreckage of Jefferson County plane crash

The plane, a single-engine cessna, left Seattle's Boeing Field headed for Port Angeles just after 6 p.m. Thursday, and lost contact with air traffic control about 6:44 p.m. near the Dabob Bay area, east of Quilcene.

The Federal Aviation Administration then contacted WSDOT.

Using radar forensics data and the plane's emergency locator transmitter, search crews were able to find the aircraft in a steep, heavily wooded ravine Friday morning.

Four occupants were located in the wreckage, but there were no survivors. As of midmorning, search crews were still working to recover the victims.

Those who know the victims have identified the pilot as 63-year-old Jon Bernhoft, a longtime pharmacist in Sequim. Also on board were a woman, described as his fiancee, and two of her grandchildren.

KIRO's Chopper 7 flew over the area and found what appeared to be wreckage and debris from the plane.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board investigators will arrive at the scene Saturday morning to examine the aircraft.

Weather may have been a factor.

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Cox Media Group