Body found in light-plane wreck

The wreckage of an airplane belonging to a Truckee pilot was found Saturday in a heavily forested area of the Sierra about 25 miles north of his hometown, authorities said.

Nevada County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jeff Pettitt said a body found in the wreckage near Sierraville is believed to be that of Clayton Beck, 37.

Beck left Truckee Tahoe Airport on Wednesday for a short flight in his single-engine, two-seat RV-6 aircraft, Pettitt said. He was reported missing that night by his wife, Lisa.

The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash of the RV-6, a home-built kit plane.

Beck recently retired as head coach of the Alpine Meadows freestyle ski program, where he coached several Olympic athletes. A retirement letter he wrote in March said he wanted to spend more time with his family, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported. His wife was expecting their second son at the time.