Recovered: Last Victim of Lake Michigan Cessna Crash
What: Cessna 206 en route from Alma Michigan to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn
Where: Lake Michigan, Ludington MI
When: July 23, 2010
Who: 4 fatalities, 1 survivor 66-year-old pilot, Jerry Freed
Why: While en route on a medical evacuation flight, the pilot contacted ATC about experiencing mechanical problems, then the medical flight crashed into Lake Michigan on July 23. The pilot was rescued by boaters Randall Schmidt and his wife, Kristin Berg, about 2 miles from shore. Six foot waves hindered the recovery efforts.
The Michigan State Police Underwater Recovery Unit sonar found the plane at approximately 6 p.m. last Thursday.
The remains of Alma school superintendent and cancer patient Don Pavlik and his wife, Irene, were recovered Friday by divers. The body of Dr. James Hall was recovered Saturday night and identified Sunday. Co-pilot Earl Davidson was found last, on Sunday at 9 a.m..