FULLERTON : Remains Believed Those of Local Fliers

The remains of three people discovered in the wreckage of a small plane that disappeared in the Mojave Desert eight years ago are believed to be those of a Fullerton businessman, his 5-year-old grandson and his son-in-law, relatives said Sunday.

The four-passenger Mooney aircraft was lost during an Aug. 5, 1983, flight from the Grand Canyon to Fullerton. In a bizarre twist, the plane’s wreckage was discovered Friday in an area about 30 miles west of Needles in San Bernardino County as rescue crews searched for a second Fullerton-bound plane that has been missing since Nov. 14.

San Bernardino County sheriff’s and coroner’s officials refused to confirm the identities of the three victims Sunday. However, 36-year-old Brian Wakeman of Brea said the remains are believed to be those of his father, Robert Wakeman, 60, a Fullerton businessman; his brother-in-law, Jim Huffman, 41, and his 5-year-old nephew Grant Huffman, both also Fullerton residents.

“It hasn’t been confirmed through the coroner because there’s just bones left and it will take some time before a positive ID,” Brian Wakeman said. “But we feel pretty certain.”

Meanwhile, Civil Air Patrol crews continued to search throughout the day Sunday for a missing twin-engine plane with five people on board. The Cessna 336 Skymaster disappeared 11 days ago en route to Fullerton Municipal Airport from Bullhead City, Ariz.

The passengers are: pilot Richard Niemela, 37, of La Mirada; Kathy Bird, 33, and her husband, Jeff Bird, 32, both of Fullerton; Bradley Bird, 33, of Placentia, and Natalie Erickson, 19, also of Placentia.

The search was called off at dusk but was expected to resume this morning.