Some Debris Discovered, Search Released To State Police

The search for a missing single engine plane with two passengers that left Mackinac Island, MI Friday for a trip to Bad Axe continues.

Tuesday's search by the Civil Air Patrol resulted in the discovery of debris along the Lake Huron shore between Cheboygan and Hammond Bay that is consistent with the type and model of aircraft, a Socata TB20 Trinidad (type shown above), that is missing, according to CAP's Michigan Wing.

With this finding, coupled with eyewitness reports, the search is being narrowed to the water between Cheboygan, Hammond Bay and Bois Blanc Island. The Michigan State Police (MSP) Underwater Recovery Unit has been requested to begin searching the area; however, the search is on hold due to inclement weather.

Currently, air search efforts by the Civil Air Patrol have been suspended. Further air searches will be conducted if the situation dictates. The mission has been turned over to the Michigan State Police.

The two passengers aboard the plane are reported to be pilot Karen Dodds, 51, of Washington DC and her passenger Brooke Stauffer, 55, also of Washington DC.

The MSP and Civil Air Patrol have received assistance from the Cheboygan County Sheriff's Department, Presque Isle Sheriff's Department, Mackinac County Sheriff's Department, and the United States Coast Guard.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 96DF        Make/Model: TB20      Description: TRINIDAD SOCATA
  Date: 08/27/2007     Time: 0355

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: CHEBOYGAN   State: MI   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, WAS THE SUBJECT OF AN ALERT
  NOTICE ISSUED AUGUST 25 AND CANCELED AUGUST 27 AFTER AIRCRAFT  PARTS WERE
  LOCATED IN LAKE HURON,  THE TWO PERSONS ON BOARD ARE ASSUMED FATAL, 6 MILES
  OFF SHORE AT CHEBOYGAN, MI

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   2     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   2
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: NOT REPORTED

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: GRAND RAPIDS, MI  (GL09)              Entry date: 08/29/2007

FMI: www.miwg.cap.gov, www.michigan.gov/msp