Missing B.C. plane's locator device silent

Airborne search teams plan to resumetheir attempt Thursday morningto locateasmall plane carrying four people that went missing en route to Victoria from Pentictonon Tuesday night.

The search for the privately ownedPiper PA24plane hasfocused on the150-kilometre area between Penticton and Princeton, officials said Wednesday.

Maj. James Pierotti of the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre saidthe single-engine plane is equipped with an emergency locator device, but searchers have yet to pick up a signal.

Theplane leftPenticton at about 5:10 p.m. PT, butno communication from the aircraft was received after take-offand the planedid not appear on radar in the Vancouver area as expected.

Vancouver is on the flight path between Victoria and Penticton.

The Kamloops Flight Information Centre reported the aircraft missing at 9:44 p.m., and officials with the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centerin Victoria immediatelybegan a search of the flight path.

A CC 115 Buffalo search-and-rescue aircraft and CH149 Cormorantrescue helicopter from 19 Wing at Canadian Forces Base Comox conducted the search overnight Tuesday. Itwas expanded with a second helicopter on Wednesday morning.

Members of the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, a Canada-wide volunteer association, are also assisting with the search, officials said.

The names of the missing pilot and passengers have not been released.

Piper PA24 Comanches arefour-seat, low-wing metal aircraft produced from 1957 to 1972.