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The wreckage of a small plane was found Wednesday in the Angeles National Forest near Lake Hughes, and the mangled pilot’s body was found at the crash scene.

Federal authorities began trying to solve the mystery of why the aircraft went down in rough terrain on the planned flight to Torrance airport.

The doomed plane is believed to be the aircraft that was reported missing last Thursday while en route from Tehachapi to Torrance, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The pilot was about 40-50 years old, according to the coroner’s office. His name was withheld pending notification of his relatives.

The sheriff’s Santa Clarita Station was notified of the discovery of the wreckage near Pine Canyon Road and Forest Route.

“A Mooney M20J, which was the subject of a search … was traveling from Tehachapi to Torrance,” said Allen Kenitzer of the FAA. “This appears to be the missing aircraft from (Thursday). Local authorities say that only the pilot was on board.”

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.

—City News Service

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