Missouri Governor Carnahan, two others feared dead in plane crash

Governor Carnahan

In this story: Two others on board No official confirmation Gore telephone call RELATED STORIES, SITES

HILLSBORO, Missouri (CNN) -- Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan, his son and a top adviser were missing and feared dead today after a small plane believed to be the governor's crashed in flames about 25 miles south of St. Louis.

Difficult conditions were hampering more than 100 emergency workers as they combed the scattered wreckage of the light aircraft that went down in rain and fog in a densely wooded area about 7:30 p.m. Monday. Members of the governor's security staff were also at the scene.

A source close to Carnahan's office told CNN that the plane was carrying the governor; his son, Roger "Randy" Carnahan, who was piloting the plane; and Chris Sifford, a longtime aide.

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Carnahan, 66, a Democrat who has been governor of Missouri for eight years, is running for the Senate and is locked in a tight race with incumbent Republican Sen. John Ashcroft.

CNN political analyst Bill Schneider said the race had been expected to be close, and was regarded as one of the Democratic Party's best chances to pick up a seat in the Republican-dominated Senate.

Two others on board

The governor and the other two men -- his son is his campaign treasurer -- were aboard a small, private plane that had been headed for a campaign stop in New Madrid, Missouri.

Kansas City Flight Service said the governor's plane took off at 7:06 p.m. from St. Louis Downtown-Parks Airport for New Madrid, where the governor was due to attend a fundraiser, St. Louis television station KMOV reported. Carnahan did not attend that event, and members of his staff said they did not know his whereabouts.

At 11 p.m., the governor's office summoned Lt. Gov. Roger Wilson and State Treasurer Bob Holden to return to the Statehouse in Jefferson City immediately for an emergency, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

In the event of Carnahan's death, Wilson would serve out the remainder of the governor's term. Holden, a Democrat, is facing Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Talent in the November election for governor.

No official confirmation

Roy Temple, chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party, confirmed that Carnahan's plane was missing, KMOV reported.

Temple could not confirm whether the governor was on board the plane that went down.

Kemp said no bodies had been found. "It's still a rescue effort," he said.

If the governor is found to have died in the crash, the accident would be eerily reminiscent of a 1976 tragedy that claimed the life of Missouri Congressman Jerry Litton.

Litton was running for the U.S. Senate seat of retiring Democratic incumbent Stuart Symington. Litton won the primary on August 3, 1976. That evening, Litton, his wife and children were killed when their plane crashed en route to a victory celebration in Kansas City.

Gore telephone call

Vice President Al Gore, in St. Louis for today's third and final presidential debate, telephoned Carnahan's wife, Jean, after the news broke, Gore aides said.

Carnahan won his first public election at age 26 as a municipal judge in his hometown of Rolla. He was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives two years later and served two terms, and later served as state treasurer.

In 1988, Carnahan was elected lieutenant governor. In 1992, he won the governor's office in a landslide. He won a second term in 1996.

CNN Correspondent Jonathan Karl and Reuters contributed to this report.

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Carnahan2000.com - Mel Carnahan for U.S. Senate
Missouri Governor's Office
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