Search for third plane crash victim temporarily suspended

Curry County, Douglas County and Wasco County Sheriff boats search for missing plane. (Image courtesy of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office.)
Curry County, Douglas County and Wasco County Sheriff boats search for missing plane. (Image courtesy of the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office.)

Brookings, Ore. — It’s not clear when the search will resume for the body of 17-year-old Ryan Merker, who was killed in a plane crash off the coast of Brookings nearly a month ago.

On Sunday, Curry County Sheriff John Ward told NBC5 News that the conditions are still  treacherous on the water. Gale force winds are expected to continue for the next couple days, making it difficult and dangerous for search crews to go out.

On July Fourth, pilot John Belnap, his 17-year-old son Max, and his friend Ryan Merker were flying from Brookings back home to Grants Pass, when Belnap’s small private plane crashed for an unknown reason.

Earlier this month, both the Belnap’s bodies were located in the ocean, along with the wreckage.

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