https://www.al.com/news/huntsville/2025/10/search-underway-for-alabama-family-after-plane-goes-down-in-montana.html?outputType=amp(thanks to all the pilots via ATC trying to relay communications after ATC lost comms. Could never hear N2345R, but the effort was there by everyone else.
In listening, many reports of ice and light rime at the altitude/s they were at. RIP)
By Rebecca Griesbach | rgriesbach@al.com
The pilot and two occupants of a plane carrying an Alabama family are dead after it crashed in the Montana wilderness, according to the county sheriff and social media reports.
Monte Sano Baptist Church in Huntsville was urging community members to pray for the safe return of Huntsville pilot Mark Anderson and his daughters, Lainey and Ellie, who went missing while flying to Polson, Montana. “Mark is an experienced pilot, and we’re holding onto hope that he made a safe landing in a remote area,” the church wrote in a Facebook post Saturday afternoon. “Weather complicated and delayed rescue efforts, but search teams are back out this morning.” On Friday afternoon, the Powell County, Montana Sheriff’s Office received a report of a possible downed aircraft, the department posted on Facebook.
“The last known position was in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Northern Powell County. Air resources were deployed from Malstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls and continued to search until around midnight,” that post stated.
The plane was located at 11:30 MT, according to the church.
“Members of the Powell County Coroners Office, Missoula County Search and Rescue with assistance from the Montana DNRC arrived on scene,” the sheriff’s office posted.
“The pilot and two other occupants were pronounced dead at the scene,” the post stated.
AL.com reached out to the Montana Highway Patrol, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Powell County Sheriff’s Office.
“We know that it is a very remote area and will take time. Our prayer is for the complete safety of Mark, Lainey and Ellie as well as their dog Stella,” the church posted.
“Pray for their safety, that they are unharmed, for Misty (wife and mother), their family and friends as we all wait. We would also like to pray for the search team as they continue their rescue. We trust in God’s protection and are asking for a miracle.”
The Powell County Sheriff’s Office turned the investigation over to the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board to determine the cause of the crash.
