The search for missing pilot Michael Martin has ended tragically, as authorities confirmed the discovery of his plane near Mount Jefferson in Nevada on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
Martin, a 65-year-old experienced licensed pilot, had been missing since January 2, when he departed from North Las Vegas for what was believed to be a routine flight in his 1968 Piper PA-28-300 aeroplane.
According to the Nye County Sheriff’s Office, Martin’s flight transponder ceased transmitting shortly after takeoff, and his plane was last known to be near Tonopah, Nevada, around noon on January 2.
The pilot’s family, who had not heard from him by January 5, reported him missing, initiating a search effort that spanned several days.
On January 16, authorities had suspended active search operations, citing harsh terrain and adverse weather conditions.
However, on January 18, a game warden using special equipment spotted the wreckage, which had been previously hidden under snow.

Nye County officials have confirmed the plane was severely damaged, with no chance of survival for the pilot.
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“Based on photos of the crashed plane, there would be no chance of survival,” the sheriff’s office stated in a press release on January 21.
Scott Lewis, Director of Emergency Management, described the site as “very treacherous” and “steep,” with recovery efforts hindered by the area’s inaccessibility.
Following the discovery, Michael Martin’s family has expressed concerns over the delay in recovery operations.
His daughter, Katie Martin-Perry, took to social media, urging the public to contact officials to expedite the retrieval of her father’s remains.
“We need everyone, family and friends to start calling the governor’s office to demand that resources be spent to recover his body,” she wrote in a Facebook post.
The Martins are now grappling with the agony of knowing the location of Michael’s plane but facing continued frustration over the lack of resources to bring him home.