A helicopter and several fixed-wing planes joined in the four-day search for an 83-year-old pilot, who was found dead Sunday. (Department of National Defence)

An 83-year-old pilot who disappeared Wednesday while flying in the mountainous Kootenay region of southeastern B.C. has been found dead following a four-day search.

Search and rescue crews found the crash site Sunday afternoon in an area between Crawford Bay and Nelson, where the search was launched Thursday after a signal from the pilot's cellphone was traced to a transmission tower in the region.

The pilot's body and the downed plane were found exactly where the cellphone provider had predicted, but spotting the aircraft proved difficult because of snow, the Victoria Joint Rescue Coordination Centre said in a release.

The man, whose name was not released, was flying a vintage single-engine Ercoupe from Cranbrook to Kelowna but disappeared en route. He had several years of flying experience.

Several aircraft were called in from surrounding areas to help with the search over the weekend, in weather conditions that were described as ideal.

Navy public affairs officer Lt. Paul Pendergast said attempts were made to contact the pilot on his cellphone and through the plane's radio, but without success.

With files from The Canadian Press