Missing helicopter pilot found dead near Coquihalla Mountain

by Contributor on 21 Sep 2011

A helicopter pilot who went missing hear Hope last Friday has been found dead.

The Aerospatiale A350 helicopter piloted by Rod Phillipson was spotted Tuesday by a Wildcat Helicopters Kelowna pilot near Coquihalla Mountain.

Canadian Forces search and rescue technicians were brought to the scene, and found Phillipson without vital signs.

Phillipson, 61, is believed to have taken off from Langley about 6:30 p.m. Friday en route to a Kelowna residence.

Four RCAF aircraft and 14 Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA) took advantage of good weather throughout Tuesday to search the corridor between Hope and Kelowna.