The body of a pilot who had gone missing has been identified by authorities.

Stearns County Sheriff Don Gudmundson says that an aircraft went missing Tuesday night has been found south of the Sauk Centre Airport. Officials at the airport say that 50-year-old Matthew James Skwira of Rice was planning to practice take offs and landings. At 3:30 p.m. Tuesday the airport contacted authorities reporting that they had no contact with Skwira.

The search for Skwira and the aircraft ended at 8:25 a.m. Wednesday when the Sauk Centre Fire Department found the aircraft. 

The Stearns County Sheriff, FAA, and the NTSB are conducting an investigation of the crash.