The search for a missing pilot whose plane reportedly crashed into the ocean about 100 nautical miles east of St. John’s yesterday will conclude at nightfall if no signs of the missing man can be found.

The Joint Recue Coordination Centre in Halifax received a Garmin SOS and an Emergency Locator transmission yesterday morning around 9:30 shortly after the plane took off from St. John’s.

The American-made single engine aircraft had been purchased in the United States by a man from Spain and had been flown along the U.S. eastern seaboard to St. John’s, with a flight plan that would take him to the Azores.

Searchers yesterday located an oil slick, a pontoon from the float plane and an empty emergency raft, but no sign of the aircraft or the missing pilot.

The JRCC says the search involving the Coast Guard, a Hercules out of Greenwood, Nova Scotia and a Cormorant out of Gander will continue until nightfall. If no sign of the pilot is found, the file will be turned over to RCMP as a missing person’s case.

Earlier story

The search effort for a small private plane reported missing off the coast of Newfoundland continues today.

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax received two emergency notifications yesterday morning, not long after the aircraft took off from St. John’s, reportedly bound for the Azores.

The single engine aircraft, which was fitted out with floats, or pontoons, went down approximately 100 nautical miles off St. John’s.

The JRCC says a pontoon and empty life raft were found in the search area yesterday, along with an oil slick.

The search, by sea and by air, continues today. Search conditions are improved from yesterday with a higher ceiling and greater visibility.