A passing civilian jet received a distress call after the crash, and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite began picking up transmissions from the plane's emergency locator beacon at about 7 p.m. Monday, Evinger said.

But, he said, it was tough to pinpoint the location, and authorities initially believed the two were in Klamath County, triggering the search headed by the Klamath County sheriff's search and rescue team.

The initial satellite transmissions were hundreds of miles apart, but after gradually consolidating a position, Evinger said he called for a National Guard OH-58 Kiowa helicopter equipped with an infrared sensor to search in the dark.