4 S. L. OFFICERS FOUND DEAD IN PLANE WRECK.

Eureka (UPI) -- The shattered wreckage of a light plane was found Sunday at the bottom of a steep canyon in the Silver Mountains east of this western Utah mining community. The bodies of four Salt Lake City men, all police officers, were found in the wreckage.
The aircraft, object of a three-day search in Utah and Nevada, was found at the confluence of Black and West Diamond Canyons in the Silver Ridge area. The wreckage was situated in a small ravine at the bottom of the steep-walled confluence.
The dead were identified as Sgt. GEORGE C. PETERSON, 36, officers PHILLIP R. CALDWELL, 24, BERT MELVIN SINGLETON, 31, and TERRY S. LASATER, the pilot, a reserve officer.
Investigators said it appeared all four had died instantly.
Bodies Removed.
The bodies were removed from the wreckage by members of the Utah Highway Patrol.
The wreckage was first sighted by HARRY SIMMONS, 26, Salt Lake City, observer in a plane piloted by WESLEY G. WATERS, 20, Salt Lake City, on a Civil Air Patrol sortie.
Officers at the scene said it appeared the pilot had lost his way in heavy storm conditions Thursday. The plane was on its way to Las Vegas, Nev., from Salt Lake City on a business trip when it crashed.
WATERS broke a landing gear in attempting a landing on U.S. Highway 6-50 near the wreckage site. He was forced to crash land his own plane but neither he nor SIMMONS was hurt.
Officials said the plane's smashed clock was stopped at 11 a.m. No fire or burning was evident, observers said.
Utah Aeronautics Director HARLON BEMENT was conducting an investigation into the crash.
It brought to six the number of people killed in plane crashes in Utah during the past seven days.

Ogden Standard Examiner Utah 1960-10-17

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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!