‘This has been a hard time for many of us:’ family of missing Tacoma pilot asking for help

The family of Rod Collen is asking for donations and volunteers to continue their search for the 52-year-old pilot, whose plane went missing over Queets on March 6.

After investigating, authorities were able to determine that the aircraft made a “very rapid” descent to the ground.

Investigators believe the plane is somewhere in a 36-square-mile section of forest land near the coast, between Lake Quinault and Queets.

Crews searched for 13 days and found no traces of the aircraft or the pilot and called off the search.

With no leads or developments, no additional aerial searches are planned, said the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Collen’s family created a GoFundMe to help fund the search and ask for volunteers.

”In order to make our search efforts as successful as possible, we need funding to provide for the volunteers that have given their own time, money, energy, and resources into the search,” said Audrey Collen. “Please donate and/or share to help find Rod. Rod is loved widely and deeply, this has been a hard time for many of us.”

To donate, go here.

Anyone who thinks they saw or heard the plane on March 6 or spotted anything in the area is asked to call the State Emergency Operations Center at 800-258-5990 with details.

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