CLEVELAND – U.S. Coast Guard search crews, assisted by Oceana and Mason County Sheriffs Departments, continue to search Lake Michigan this evening for four people missing after their plane crashed in the lake this morning.
The pilot of the Cessna 206, Jerry Freed was rescued by a good Samaritan vessel. Still missing are co-pilot Earl Davidson and passengers James Hall, Donald Pavlik and Irene Pavlik.
The Coast Guard was notified by an air traffic controller who reported losing contact with the aircraft at about 10 a.m., Central Standard Time.
The Cessna 206 aircraft took off from Alma, Mich., heading to Rochester, Minn., but reported having problems to the air traffic controller. The search is focused in the vicinity of Ludington, Mich., where the aircraft dropped off radar.
The Coast Guard dispatched search crews aboard a 25-foot response boat from Station Ludington and a 47-foot motor lifeboat from Station Manistee, Mich. Also dispatched are an HH-65C Dolphin rescue helicopter from Air Station Traverse City, Mich, and an additional Dolphin rescue helicopter from Air Facility Muskegon, Mich.
A Coast Guard Auxiliary aircraft is also aiding in the search.
