The pilot is identified as Mark Anderson (62), of Huntsville, Alabama, along with his two daughters, Lainey Anderson (22) and Ellie Anderson (17).

• The pilot is identified as Mark Anderson (62), of Huntsville, Alabama, along with his two daughters, Lainey Anderson (22) and Ellie Anderson (17). New York Post+2People.com+2

• The family was flying a small plane bound for Polson, Montana, and radar contact was lost around 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October 17, in the remote area of the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Northern Powell County, Montana. People.com+2https://www.wsaw.com+2

• The wreckage was located the next morning (Saturday, Oct 18) by a volunteer aircraft. All three were pronounced dead at the scene. People.com+1

• The crash site is very remote, with no reliable cell signal, complicating the search. https://www.wsaw.com+1

• The investigation into what caused the crash is now being handled by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). People.com+1

⚠️ What is not yet known or released

• The exact cause of the crash — weather, mechanical failure, pilot error, etc. — has not been publicly released.

• The specific model of the aircraft and other flight‑details (altitude, route deviations, maintenance history) are still under investigation.

• No additional information yet regarding the specific timeline of the flight beyond radar loss and location of wreckage.

🤝 A personal note on the victims

• Lainey had recently graduated from the flight program at Auburn University and had become a certified flight instructor. New York Post

• Ellie was involved in a dance community and was remembered by her peers for her motto “Let all that you do be done in love.” New York Post

• Their local church community in Huntsville, Alabama — Monte Sano Baptist Church — had earlier posted prayers for the family when they were reported missing. People.com+1

🕯️ Impact & what happens next

• The family’s passing has caused a profound shock in their community, especially given the remote nature of the crash site and the promise of their younger lives.

• The FAA/NTSB investigation may take months to determine the primary factors and contributing causes of the accident.

• In such remote crash locations, recovery, analysis of wreckage and black‑box (if applicable) or flight‑data can be more challenging, which may lengthen the investigation timeline.

• The family and friends are likely to have to navigate both personal grief and formal investigation processes (insurance, aviation records, etc.).