Washington, United States: Two men were killed when a 1976 Piper Cub crashed in mountainous terrain in Washington state while travelling from Penticton, British Columbia, Canada, to Grangeville, Idaho. The wreckage was located on Sunday, 11 October, 2026 a day after the aircraft was reported missing, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
The victims were identified as pilot Nicholas Grachanin, 61, and passenger Jim Merik, 50. Both were found dead inside the aircraft at approximately 4:30 p.m. local time in Aeneas Valley near Tonasket, in Okanogan County. Their families were notified following the discovery.
The aircraft departed Penticton on Saturday, 10 October, bound for Grangeville. During the flight, Grachanin lost communication with Seattle Center air traffic control. His daughter subsequently contacted the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office to report the aircraft and its occupants missing.
WSDOT Aviation Emergency Services launched a search on Saturday evening, concentrating initially on the aircraft’s last known radar positions between Oroville and Okanogan. Search teams also used cell-phone forensic information to help identify potential search areas. No distress signals were received overnight, according to WSDOT’s initial search update.
The operation involved WSDOT personnel, the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office, Okanogan County Emergency Management, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office air support unit and ground-search resources from the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash. NTSB spokesperson Jennifer Gabris said that the aircraft had crashed under unknown circumstances in mountainous terrain. Investigators are expected to document the crash site, examine the wreckage and recover the aircraft to a secure facility for further evaluation.
The investigation will examine flight-tracking data, air traffic control communications, aircraft maintenance records, pilot experience and weather conditions. The cause of the crash has not been established, and authorities have not publicly confirmed what led to the loss of communication.
A preliminary NTSB report is expected within 30 days of the accident, while the final report, including the probable cause and any contributing factors, may take 12 to 24 months. No aircraft operator or company affiliation has been confirmed in the official information released so far.
