2 bodies believed to be Autumn Veatch's grandparents recovered from plane wreckage

SKAGIT COUNTY -- Search and rescue crews on Wednesday recovered two bodies believed to be Autumn Veatch's grandparents from the wreckage of plane with Montana identification that was found in a rugged area of Skagit County.

The wreckage was found about one mile north of State Route 20 in the Rainy Pass area, the Skagit County Sheriff's Office said.

David Veatch, Autumn's father, tweeted his condolences Wednesday night. His references are believed to be to Autumn's mother and her husband, Bob Bowman, whose parents were on the airplane.



"The wreckage was extensively burned, and was in fact still smoldering and flaring up when searchers arrived," the sheriff's office said.

" United States Forest Service firefighters were called to deal with a small woodland brush fire caused by the crash.  Two bodies were recovered from the wreckage.  Names are being withheld pending identification and notification of next of kin by the Skagit County Coroner."



The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office has completed its investigation and recovery, and is turning over the scene to the National Transportation Safety Board.

The plane is believed to be the one that left Kalispell, Montana, for Lynden, Wash., but crashed in Skagit County Saturday.

Autumn Veatch, 16, who was on the plane with her two grandparents, survived the crash and spent two days in the wilderness. She hiked out, where she was picked up by a motorist Monday. She was hospitalized for dehydration, burns to her hands and bruises. She left the hospital Tuesday to return home in Bellingham.

Autumn's grandparents on the plane were Leland Bowman, 62, and Sharon Bowman, 63, of Marion, Mont.

Leland Bowman was believed to have been piloting the plane.

Cause of the crash has not yet been determined.