Two Day Search Gave No Clues

On Saturday morning the Coast Guard suspended its search for Dr. Mark Nichter, 50, who reportedly lost communications after departing St. Petersburg, FL, Tuesday, in a single engine plane.  Nichter worked in the pediatric intensive care unit at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg.

The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center called the Coast Guard on Thursday to report a loss of radio communications with Nichter on Tuesday.  The aircraft was last reported at approximately 9,900 ft, 140 miles southwest of St. Petersburg, FL.

Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile, AL, launched an HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane and crew that conducted three search patterns, totaling 1,890 square miles, an area larger than Rhode Island. An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast (UMIB) was also issued to mariners as a caution in the area.

The Coast Guard report did not give a reason they were not contacted until Thursday to start a rescue search mission for Nichter.  There has been no indication of passengers and no reports as to Nichter's intended destination.  He had his private and instrument ratings.

FMI: www.NTSB.gov