Search continues for Truckee pilot

The search for a Truckee pilot missing since flying out of Truckee-Tahoe Airport Wednesday continued into the weekend.

Nevada County sheriff's deputies say 37-year-old Clayton Beck was reported missing by his wife, Lisa Beck, after he failed to return home Thursday.

Deputies say the Civil Air Patrol and California Office of Emergency Services are conducting a search in a 90-mile area around the airport.

Beck's single-engine, two-seater RV-6 experimental aircraft is capable of flying 750 miles on a full tank of gas, but deputies say the search is based on his usual flying habits.

Beck left the airport for a short flight around the Truckee area.

Eight airplanes took part in the search Friday morning after volunteers suspended flights at about 10 p.m. Thursday after trying to locate Beck's emergency locator beacon, said search coordinator Robert Todd.

“We have no clues,” Todd said. “All we know is he took off from Truckee. At this point we’re trying to pick up a signal.”

Roger Rintala, a friend of the Beck family, said more resources will be added to the search Saturday.

“Everything is gaining momentum in terms of searching instead of losing it,” Rintala said.

With the holiday weekend in full swing, Rintala said he’s hopeful that people recreating in the mountains might discover clues regarding Beck’s whereabouts.

“This time of year we’ve got a ton of people under the canopy,” he said. “There’s a ground crew ready to go if we find a target.”