Dear all,
We received a call from the detective in charge of our case with the MSP. They are suspending search operations for the weekend. Due to very light currents in the waters they have searched, they remain confident that this will not impact the continuance of the recovery effort on Tuesday.
They are searching what we estimate to be a 2-1/2 by 1 mile swath, mostly north of the South Channel of Mackinac Straits and centered about 5 miles northwest of Cheboygan, between Point Nipigon on the Lower Peninsula and Zola Point on Bois Blanc Island. On the west end of the swath is where a witness thinks the plane hit the water, and on the east end is where the Univ. of Mich. drift charts suggest the plane may be. No other debris has washed up.
We were informed that they will have to reassess the likelihood of discovering the remains of the crash, as even 48 hours ago, their success rate only hovered around 50%. They have been searching a vast area of water at great depth and under adverse weather and water conditions.
The children of Brooke wish to thank all well wishers in the guestbook, and we think we can speak on behalf of Karen's mother and say the same. We are looking forward to a weekend where every phone call is not so fraught with expectation, good or bad, and wish everyone a relaxing and quiet holiday weekend.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Still awaiting news, there are some new pictures up
Good morning everyone,
No new news this morning. Gregory's girlfriend, Caroline, uploaded some recent photo's of Karen and Brooke's visits down to Charlotte, NC. Click on their photo at the top of this blog to see them.
Anyone who is looking for memorial service information, keep your eyes here. We will announce on the blog any information pertinent to that. There are no concrete plans, yet--though once Kathleen and her husband come into town, we will make some decisions.
No new news this morning. Gregory's girlfriend, Caroline, uploaded some recent photo's of Karen and Brooke's visits down to Charlotte, NC. Click on their photo at the top of this blog to see them.
Anyone who is looking for memorial service information, keep your eyes here. We will announce on the blog any information pertinent to that. There are no concrete plans, yet--though once Kathleen and her husband come into town, we will make some decisions.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
The MSP are still looking
Good morning all,
I talked to the State Police this morning and there is no news. He said the sonar band is only 200 feet wide and moves at about 5 miles per hour. They are covering an area 2-1/2 miles wide, so it is slow going.
Love to you all,
Kathleen
I talked to the State Police this morning and there is no news. He said the sonar band is only 200 feet wide and moves at about 5 miles per hour. They are covering an area 2-1/2 miles wide, so it is slow going.
Love to you all,
Kathleen
From Karen's website - some ad work she did to promote her business
I thought that this PDF that Karen put together to promote her business would give many of you a real sense of the amazing and driven person she was. Her passion really was flying, and that was something that Brooke shared enthusiastically with her.
Her website: doddsdesign.com
Her website: doddsdesign.com
More links to news stories I found today
Nothing new to report today. These are the most recent headlines.
More debris located; weather slows search
http://www.cheboygannews.com/articles/2007/08/30/news/news5.txt
A Detailed "after the fact" Overview of CAP efforts with names of those involved:
http://www.cadillacnews.com/articles/2007/08/30/news/news06.txt
Yet another recent rehash from the Detroit News:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070830/METRO/708300366/1003
News story claims that the search for the missing plane is over. (This is NOT true. What they mean is that the CAP has stopped looking after debris was found on Monday, and they realized the plane was somewhere in the lake. They are still searching for the whole plane which we assume is under water. Once the CAP decided there was nothing to find on land they suspended their exhaustive and diligent search so the MSP could look underwater.)
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070829/NEWS01/308290022
More debris located; weather slows search
http://www.cheboygannews.com/articles/2007/08/30/news/news5.txt
A Detailed "after the fact" Overview of CAP efforts with names of those involved:
http://www.cadillacnews.com/articles/2007/08/30/news/news06.txt
Yet another recent rehash from the Detroit News:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070830/METRO/708300366/1003
News story claims that the search for the missing plane is over. (This is NOT true. What they mean is that the CAP has stopped looking after debris was found on Monday, and they realized the plane was somewhere in the lake. They are still searching for the whole plane which we assume is under water. Once the CAP decided there was nothing to find on land they suspended their exhaustive and diligent search so the MSP could look underwater.)
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070829/NEWS01/308290022
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Karen was a proud member of DC Web Women and they sent us this note
Karen was a proud member of DC Web Women, a professional organization for women interested in new media in the Washington DC Metropolitan area. I recently hired one of their members to work with me at AICR, and Karen talked about them often.
They just sent me this note:
They just sent me this note:
Sad news to report...
Karen Dodds, graphic designer and long-time DC Web Woman, is missing and presumed dead after the small plane she was flying failed to arrive at Mackinac Island, Michigan Friday afternoon. She had planned a sightseeing trip with her fiance and ran into bad weather.
Those who knew Karen might wish to read a blog that has been set up to track any news:
http://karenandbrooke.blogspot.com/
Please join me in remembering Karen as someone who loved the web and was always willing to offer help and advice to our community.
--Emma
Brooke's office (NECA) posted a notice on their website
This is the notice posted on NECA's website:
August 28, 2007
NECA Standards Director Brooke Stauffer And Fiancee Missing
We regret to inform you that Brooke Stauffer, NECA’s executive director of standards and safety, and his fiancée Karen Dodds are missing after the small, single-engine plane they were flying in on Friday apparently went down over Lake Huron. Some debris from the aircraft was reportedly found yesterday on the beach at Bois Blanc Island.
Brooke and Karen had been vacationing on Mackinac Island. On Friday afternoon, they set out from the small airport there to Bad Axe, Michigan, with Karen piloting the plane. The plan was to visit her family in the area and the flight should have taken about two hours. They never arrived.
A massive search took place over the weekend. The Michigan Wing of the U.S. Civil Air Patrol, based in Gaylord, the U.S. Coast Guard out of Detroit, and the Royal Canadian Coast Guard were all involved in the effort. The search continues today with the use of divers in the area where the wreckage was discovered.
We will provide an update when more information is known. In the meantime, you may click here (http://karenandbrooke.blogspot.com/) to read the blog being maintained by Brooke’s oldest son, Christian.
Brooke joined NECA’s national headquarters staff in June 1995. His duties include overseeing the development of our series of National Installation Standards and safety resources. He is also chairman of the National Fire Protection Association's Electrical Section, which has overall responsibility for the National Electrical Code, and he is a principal on Code-Making Panel 1, NFPA. Our thoughts and prayers are with Brooke and Karen and their families.
The Guestbook messages have been posted, sorry for the delay
Dear all,
All guestbook postings have been made live. I forgot to login and approve them in the last 24 hours. Please continue to leave your messages there, if you would like to make it easy for everyone else to read them.
If you have pictures you want posted on the Flickr account behind Karen & Dad's picture at the top of the blog, please send them to me at djchristauff@gmail.com.
All guestbook postings have been made live. I forgot to login and approve them in the last 24 hours. Please continue to leave your messages there, if you would like to make it easy for everyone else to read them.
If you have pictures you want posted on the Flickr account behind Karen & Dad's picture at the top of the blog, please send them to me at djchristauff@gmail.com.
Wednesday news - an email from Karen's Mom
Hi all,
I just talked to the State Police and he said that the boats were already in the water this morning, looking for the plane. They are using side band radar and searching about a 2-1/2 mile radius, at about 100-plus foot depth.
Our Pastor was up on Mackinac Island Monday and Tuesday (on vacation) and stopped by the airport to talk to the Manager. He showed Pastor the weather reports from Friday, which showed "haze with visibility 1-3/4 miles." He thinks that if/when she ran into the fog and discovered it was worse than she thought, that she may have tried to turn around and go back. He said if she turned toward Cheboygan, she would have a horizon; if she turned left toward the lake, she would have lost her horizon and become disoriented. I know Karen was good with her instruments but if she was flying as low as 500 to 1000 feet, she wouldn't have had enough room to maneuver.
State Police say they are working with Univ. of Mich. and their depth and drift pattern charts to locate the plane. The location of the debris has been consistent with eye-witness reports and their charts. This has pinpointed the area they are searching for the plane. I will call with any further news.
Love to you all,
Kathleen
I just talked to the State Police and he said that the boats were already in the water this morning, looking for the plane. They are using side band radar and searching about a 2-1/2 mile radius, at about 100-plus foot depth.
Our Pastor was up on Mackinac Island Monday and Tuesday (on vacation) and stopped by the airport to talk to the Manager. He showed Pastor the weather reports from Friday, which showed "haze with visibility 1-3/4 miles." He thinks that if/when she ran into the fog and discovered it was worse than she thought, that she may have tried to turn around and go back. He said if she turned toward Cheboygan, she would have a horizon; if she turned left toward the lake, she would have lost her horizon and become disoriented. I know Karen was good with her instruments but if she was flying as low as 500 to 1000 feet, she wouldn't have had enough room to maneuver.
State Police say they are working with Univ. of Mich. and their depth and drift pattern charts to locate the plane. The location of the debris has been consistent with eye-witness reports and their charts. This has pinpointed the area they are searching for the plane. I will call with any further news.
Love to you all,
Kathleen
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Final CAP Press Release
MICHIGAN WING, CIVIL AIR PATROL
United States Air Force Auxiliary
1100 Aero Drive
Gaylord, Michigan 49735
Telephone: (248) 565-2001
United States Air Force Auxiliary
1100 Aero Drive
Gaylord, Michigan 49735
Telephone: (248) 565-2001
28 August 2007
12:00 p.m. EST
Mission: 07M-1572A
Release #4
12:00 p.m. EST
Mission: 07M-1572A
Release #4
GAYLORD, Mich. –Michigan Wing of the U.S. Civil Air Patrol has turned this mission over to the Michigan State Police today. Below is a copy of the press release sent this afternoon.
At the completion of yesterday’s activities Civil Air Patrol had flown more than 100 hours over the past three days using eight of the nine aircraft assigned to Michigan Wing. Each day more than 60 volunteers worked on ground teams, base staff and aircrews to locate the missing plane. Many tips were received from the public, and we wish to thank them for their support. We also wish to thank the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Glenns Market, McDonalds, Kmart and other local business that contributed food and equipment to our teams. These contributions came not only from the Gaylord area but also from Grayling and surrounding communities.
**************** From the Michigan State Police *******************
SEARCH FOR MISSING PLANE CONTINUES
Update #4
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 28, 2007
ST. IGNACE, MICH. The search for a small, single engine plane with two passengers that left Mackinac Island at approximately 1:30 p.m. on August 24 en route to Bad Axe continues. Yesterday’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 that is missing.
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 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.
###
CONTACT:
MSP St. Ignace Post, (906) 643-7582
We have added a guestbook to the blog on the right
Due to the overwhelming number of warm and loving emails we have received I felt it might be appropriate to add a guestbook (look to the right) on the blog so that everyone can leave messages here. I will moderate all posts and will be happy to post personal emails I have received to it already, if someone requests it. It looks like this:
No water search underway today unless waves calm down.
I have spoken with the detective in charge of our case who is with the State Police. He told me this afternoon that there has not been any search undertaken today, due to four foot rollers (waves) on Lake Huron. He informed me that they will start just as soon as the waves calm down a bit.
We have received more photos and I have posted them on Flickr, thanks to Mike Holt and Lorena Checa, who are close friends.
We have received more photos and I have posted them on Flickr, thanks to Mike Holt and Lorena Checa, who are close friends.
More local news organizations are picking this story up
Just saw this story posted today.
Airplane missing four days
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
DEAN BOHN
THE SAGINAW NEWS
Authorities met late Monday to decide whether to continue to search for a missing aircraft and two people aboard.
Search and rescue teams were taking a close look along Lake Huron and its shoreline after the single-engine private plane failed to arrive at a Thumb airport Friday.
Karen Dodds of Washington, D.C., was piloting the plane, a relative said. She was flying with her fiance, Brooke Stauffer, also of Washington, D.C., said Stauffer's first cousin, John P. Stauffer, 59, of Asheboro, N.C.
Brooke Stauffer, who is in his mid-50s, is a widower; Dodds is divorced, Stauffer said.
"He was (in Michigan) visiting relatives," Stauffer said. "He was supposed to meet a relative in Bad Axe and see another relative in Saginaw, but he never made it."
Authorities would not confirm the pilot or the passenger's identities Monday.
The four-seat blue-and-white aircraft left Mackinac Island Airport about noon Friday, bound for Huron County Memorial Airport in Bad Axe, authorities have said.
Search crews have focused on the craft's projected flight path but so far have found no sign of the airplane or its passengers. Officials said they think the pilot and a passenger were on a sight-seeing tour of northern Michigan.
If you need to get in touch with Hilary Stauffer
Hilary's friends can reach her at the following information:
hilarystauffer AT yahoo.com
240-604-8115 (cell)
202-547-2170 (home)
All calls and inquiries are appreciated. Please understand that it may be very hard to answer you promptly.
All your thoughts and prayers are very much appreciated.
hilarystauffer AT yahoo.com
240-604-8115 (cell)
202-547-2170 (home)
All calls and inquiries are appreciated. Please understand that it may be very hard to answer you promptly.
All your thoughts and prayers are very much appreciated.
The most recent news we have - Bois Blanc Island
At the moment, what we can tell everyone is that they have narrowed the search down to the waters around Bois Blanc Island. We don't expect the news to be positive. We are awaiting an official press release of the CAP's activities, today; but the Civil Air Patrol talks with Kathleen several times a day, regardless.
On Friday, the day they took off from Makinac Island, several residents of this island reported to the local authorities that they heard a plane and then a "loud boom". I received a link to the island's online community where a posting had begun about this development, from concerned citizens there, who had independently found this blog. Our families were unaware of this, and had only reported Brooke and Karen missing when they did not land at the airstrip in Bad Axe, MI.
On Monday morning, we received word that some debris was found on the beach at Bois Blanc Island. This led to the belief that the plane was in the water, not on land.
Last night, around 9pm, Kathleen contacted me to say that Coast Guard is sending divers down today. That is all we can report at the moment. Keep checking in for more news.
Hilary and Gregory are in Washington, DC; now, at Karen and Brooke's house.
On Friday, the day they took off from Makinac Island, several residents of this island reported to the local authorities that they heard a plane and then a "loud boom". I received a link to the island's online community where a posting had begun about this development, from concerned citizens there, who had independently found this blog. Our families were unaware of this, and had only reported Brooke and Karen missing when they did not land at the airstrip in Bad Axe, MI.
On Monday morning, we received word that some debris was found on the beach at Bois Blanc Island. This led to the belief that the plane was in the water, not on land.
Last night, around 9pm, Kathleen contacted me to say that Coast Guard is sending divers down today. That is all we can report at the moment. Keep checking in for more news.
Hilary and Gregory are in Washington, DC; now, at Karen and Brooke's house.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Brooke and Karen's friend Mike Holt sent us some recent pictures
Mike Holt sent some recent photos he took of Brooke and Karen when they visited him.
Kathleen (Karen's mom) sent a recent picture of the three of them, which you can view at the same link below.
I posted them with his permission to my Flickr account. You can view their photos here.
Kathleen (Karen's mom) sent a recent picture of the three of them, which you can view at the same link below.
I posted them with his permission to my Flickr account. You can view their photos here.
The third press release from the Civil Air Patrol (CAP)
This press release can seem a tad repetitive if you just read the two previous ones for the first time, but the CAP and the State Police are doing a bang-up up job looking and we salute their efforts.
Download PRESS RELEASE 3 (MS Word DOC)
MICHIGAN WING, CIVIL AIR PATROL
United States Air Force Auxiliary
1100 Aero Drive
Gaylord, Michigan 49735
Telephone: (248) 565-2001
United States Air Force Auxiliary
1100 Aero Drive
Gaylord, Michigan 49735
Telephone: (248) 565-2001
26 August 2007
1 p.m. EST
Mission: 07M-1572A
Release #3
1 p.m. EST
Mission: 07M-1572A
Release #3
GAYLORD, Mich. – Members of the U.S. Civil Air Patrol’s Michigan Wing continued their search today for a small, single-engine plane with two people on board along the eastern and northern shoreline of lower Michigan.
Today we have launched six aircraft and sent three ground teams into the search area. Civil Air Patrol wishes to thank the public for calling in their tips and observations, it’s with this continued support that will allow us to concentrate our search in the more promising areas. Please call us, or your local law enforcement agency if you have any information that you think might help.
Civil Air Patrol, an organization consisting entirely of volunteers, also wishes to thank the local Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Glenns Market who have contributed food and drinks for our searchers.
The overdue aircraft departed Mackinac Island Airport on Friday afternoon (Aug. 24) en route to Bad Axe, Mich. The search area has been concentrated along the aircraft’s projected flight path along the shoreline.
All Civil Air Patrol search efforts are being coordinated out of the wing’s mission base established at Gaylord Regional Airport in Gaylord, Mich.
If anyone has any information that might help the Michigan Wing locate this overdue aircraft or its two passengers, please contact Maj. Patrick Gorman, wing mission information officer, at (248) 565-2001.
The local news has picked up this story
Here are a few stories I've been sent and have found so far:
Search is on for Missing Small PlaneThis one says the search has been suspended. That is only partially true. The Coast Guard is no longer searching without more concrete information:
The Michigan Wing of the Civil Air Patrol has been hard at work this weekend looking for a small single engine plane with two people aboard, that's been missing since Friday.
The plane took off from Mackinac Island Airport on Friday afternoon and was in route to Bad Axe, Michigan... But it never got there.
Headquartered in Gaylord, more than 60 wing members and eight civil air patrol planes started searching for the overdue aircraft yesterday afternoon. So far, they've logged more than 30 hours of flight time.
Ground teams followed up on leads phoned in by lcoal residents and supported flight teams when needed.
They are concentrating their search on the plane's projected flight path along the lake huron coast.
If anyone saw anything Friday afternoon, or since, that might help searchers, they can call 248-240-2275.
Search for missing plane comes up empty
HURON COUNTY — An extensive search for a missing single engine aircraft bound for Bad Axe Friday has been suspended, according to the U.S. Coast Guard out of Detroit.
The aircraft was reportedly bound for Huron County Memorial Airport on Friday from Mackinac Island but did not arrive.
Ellen Engler, Huron County Memorial Airport manager, said there was no flight plan logged for the stop in Bad Axe, but that is not required. It was when “a private party came here to meet the aircraft” in Bad Axe that it was determined the aircraft was missing.
Engler said the aircraft is reported to be a four-passenger single engine airplane. She did not know who or how many people were aboard when the aircraft left Mackinac Island.
“I do know we fueled out the Coast Guard and they had people conducting a very extensive search,” Engler said.
The U.S. Coast Guard out of Detroit confirmed the air search for the aircraft “from the location the aircraft left from to the location they were expected to arrive.”
Huron Central Dispatch received a call at 11:24 a.m. on Saturday from Lansing Air Service requesting that someone check the Huron County Memorial Airport for a blue and white aircraft that was supposed to have landed at the airport.
Deputy Ryan Swartz was dispatched to the airport and was unable to located the aircraft.
No further information was available from the Coast Guard.
The Civil Air Patrol sent out press releases
Christian,
Some members of the family have been asking about press releases, so this morning when the CAP contact (Lt. Col. Curtis Boehmer) called me I asked him about it. This is his reply with two of the press releases. They will forward to me any further press releases.
Please put these up on the blog.
Also, for further information, I asked how long they would continue to search. The answer: They (CAP) are directed to search by the State Police, and every day CAP reports to the SP on the results of that day's search. Based on that day's information, the SP makes the decision on whether or not to continue the search.
Love,
Kathleen
Read them below:
Download PRESS RELEASE 1 (MS Word DOC)
GAYLORD, Mich. – Members of the U.S. Civil Air Patrol’s Michigan Wing continued their search today for a small, single-engine plane with two people on board along the eastern shoreline of lower Michigan.
The air and ground teams covered more than 1,500 square miles and will continue the search tomorrow.
The overdue aircraft departed Mackinac Island Airport on Friday afternoon (Aug. 24) en route to Bad Axe, Mich. The search area has been concentrated along the aircraft’s projected flight path along the shoreline.
Michigan Wing search operations today included eight aircraft, totaling over 30 hours of flight time, and three ground teams with nine members each, and mission base staff. While the flight teams retraced the aircraft‘s projected flight path and covered the surrounding area, the ground teams followed-up on leads phoned in by local residents and supported the flight teams when needed.
All Civil Air Patrol search efforts are being coordinated out of the wing’s mission base established at Gaylord Regional Airport in Gaylord, Mich.
If anyone has any information that might help the Michigan Wing locate this overdue aircraft or its two passengers, please contact Maj. Patrick Gorman, wing mission information officer, at (248) 565-2001.
Download PRESS RELEASE 2 (MS Word DOC)
GAYLORD, Mich. – Members of the U.S. Civil Air Patrol’s Michigan Wing began searching on Saturday (Aug. 25) for a small, single-engine plane with two people on board along the eastern coast of lower Michigan.
More than 60 wing members and five CAP aircraft wing are currently involved in the extensive search, along with members of the U.S. Coast Guard.
The overdue aircraft departed Mackinac Island Airport on Friday afternoon (Aug. 24) en route to Bad Axe, Mich. The search area has been concentrated along the aircraft’s projected flight path along the coast.
Michigan Wing search operations today include six aircraft and two ground teams and mission base staff. The search is being conducted by members of the wing’s Gaylord, Au Sable, Traverse City and Alpena Composite squadrons, as well as other wing support personnel from all over the state of Michigan.
All Civil Air Patrol search efforts are being coordinated out of wing’s mission base established at Gaylord Regional Airport in Gaylord, Mich. Major Randolph Rice, the Incident Commander, when asked about the status of the mission reported “…Civil Air Patrol has been around for more than 66 years, this is what we train for and we have many many dedicated people to draw from, all over Michigan…”
If anyone has any information that might help the Michigan Wing locate this overdue aircraft or its two passengers, please contact Maj. Patrick Gorman, wing mission information officer, at (248) 565-2001.
Some members of the family have been asking about press releases, so this morning when the CAP contact (Lt. Col. Curtis Boehmer) called me I asked him about it. This is his reply with two of the press releases. They will forward to me any further press releases.
Please put these up on the blog.
Also, for further information, I asked how long they would continue to search. The answer: They (CAP) are directed to search by the State Police, and every day CAP reports to the SP on the results of that day's search. Based on that day's information, the SP makes the decision on whether or not to continue the search.
Love,
Kathleen
Read them below:
Download PRESS RELEASE 1 (MS Word DOC)
MICHIGAN WING, CIVIL AIR PATROL
United States Air Force Auxiliary
1100 Aero Drive
Gaylord, Michigan 49735
Telephone: (248) 565-2001
United States Air Force Auxiliary
1100 Aero Drive
Gaylord, Michigan 49735
Telephone: (248) 565-2001
26 August 2007
8 p.m. EST
Mission: 07M-1572A
Release #1
8 p.m. EST
Mission: 07M-1572A
Release #1
GAYLORD, Mich. – Members of the U.S. Civil Air Patrol’s Michigan Wing continued their search today for a small, single-engine plane with two people on board along the eastern shoreline of lower Michigan.
The air and ground teams covered more than 1,500 square miles and will continue the search tomorrow.
The overdue aircraft departed Mackinac Island Airport on Friday afternoon (Aug. 24) en route to Bad Axe, Mich. The search area has been concentrated along the aircraft’s projected flight path along the shoreline.
Michigan Wing search operations today included eight aircraft, totaling over 30 hours of flight time, and three ground teams with nine members each, and mission base staff. While the flight teams retraced the aircraft‘s projected flight path and covered the surrounding area, the ground teams followed-up on leads phoned in by local residents and supported the flight teams when needed.
All Civil Air Patrol search efforts are being coordinated out of the wing’s mission base established at Gaylord Regional Airport in Gaylord, Mich.
If anyone has any information that might help the Michigan Wing locate this overdue aircraft or its two passengers, please contact Maj. Patrick Gorman, wing mission information officer, at (248) 565-2001.
Download PRESS RELEASE 2 (MS Word DOC)
MICHIGAN WING, CIVIL AIR PATROL
United States Air Force Auxiliary
1100 Aero Drive
Gaylord, Michigan 49735
Telephone: (248) 565-2001
United States Air Force Auxiliary
1100 Aero Drive
Gaylord, Michigan 49735
Telephone: (248) 565-2001
26 August 2007
12 p.m. EST
Mission: 07M-1572A
Release #1
12 p.m. EST
Mission: 07M-1572A
Release #1
GAYLORD, Mich. – Members of the U.S. Civil Air Patrol’s Michigan Wing began searching on Saturday (Aug. 25) for a small, single-engine plane with two people on board along the eastern coast of lower Michigan.
More than 60 wing members and five CAP aircraft wing are currently involved in the extensive search, along with members of the U.S. Coast Guard.
The overdue aircraft departed Mackinac Island Airport on Friday afternoon (Aug. 24) en route to Bad Axe, Mich. The search area has been concentrated along the aircraft’s projected flight path along the coast.
Michigan Wing search operations today include six aircraft and two ground teams and mission base staff. The search is being conducted by members of the wing’s Gaylord, Au Sable, Traverse City and Alpena Composite squadrons, as well as other wing support personnel from all over the state of Michigan.
All Civil Air Patrol search efforts are being coordinated out of wing’s mission base established at Gaylord Regional Airport in Gaylord, Mich. Major Randolph Rice, the Incident Commander, when asked about the status of the mission reported “…Civil Air Patrol has been around for more than 66 years, this is what we train for and we have many many dedicated people to draw from, all over Michigan…”
If anyone has any information that might help the Michigan Wing locate this overdue aircraft or its two passengers, please contact Maj. Patrick Gorman, wing mission information officer, at (248) 565-2001.
The Civil Air Patrol search team is pretty significant
Christian,
In the interest of time, I'm sending this directly to you instead of my trying to upload it to the blog.
This is a synopsis of today's activities and information of what they will do tomorrow:
Today the Civil Air Patrol Search & Rescue Service had eight planes in the air and four ground teams. The air teams were examining closely the two islands nearest Mackinac Island. CAP sets a numeric measure of the chance of their success of finding the plane. Today their success ratio was not as high as they wished so they will also fly those islands tomorrow. In other words, they did not find anything. If tomorrow's search doesn't turn up anything, they will fly further south tomorrow, starting at daybreak.
CAP is in contact with the Coast Guard and is keeping them apprised of their success ratio. Based on that, CG will make a decision of whether or not they will rejoin the search and when.
I forgot to add that they found that the radar tapes from the airbase at Alpena were not of value as apparently Karen was flying literally below the radar.
Kathleen
In the interest of time, I'm sending this directly to you instead of my trying to upload it to the blog.
This is a synopsis of today's activities and information of what they will do tomorrow:
Today the Civil Air Patrol Search & Rescue Service had eight planes in the air and four ground teams. The air teams were examining closely the two islands nearest Mackinac Island. CAP sets a numeric measure of the chance of their success of finding the plane. Today their success ratio was not as high as they wished so they will also fly those islands tomorrow. In other words, they did not find anything. If tomorrow's search doesn't turn up anything, they will fly further south tomorrow, starting at daybreak.
CAP is in contact with the Coast Guard and is keeping them apprised of their success ratio. Based on that, CG will make a decision of whether or not they will rejoin the search and when.
I forgot to add that they found that the radar tapes from the airbase at Alpena were not of value as apparently Karen was flying literally below the radar.
Kathleen
Sunday, August 26, 2007
2007-08-26: First email from Karen's Mom
I received this from email Karen's Mom on Saturday, August 25, 2007 2:46 PM
Christian,
If you've been trying to reach your Dad by cell phone unsuccessfully, here's why.
Brooke and Karen left here (Muskegon area) Wednesday to fly up to Mackinac Island (at the tip of the Michigan mitt) for two days. On Friday afternoon, they planned to fly down to The Thumb of Michigan to my brother's place (Bill & Doranne). They called Bill to say they were starting around 1:00-1:15 pm, and that they would arrive around 3:00-3:30 pm. Bill and Doranne were there at 3:00 and waited until 4:30 pm and the plane did not arrive -- and still has not arrived.
Karen's plan was to fly low over the water (about 500 feet) so they could see the dunes, shoreline, etc. Unfortunately, just about the time they planned to take off, there was a bad weather cell in what would have been the middle of their route. Karen did have about three-quarters of a tank of gas (= about three hours of flying).
By the time we got worried last evening, all the flight offices at the nearby airports were closed. So I started calling at 8 o'clock this morning and have been on the phone ever since. I have called the Mackinac Island airport -- the plane is not there. I have called five or six nearby airports that she could have landed at, and she is not there. I have called the Coast Guard and they have no report of a plane in the water. I have also filed an official Missing Plane report with the FAA. I called the State Police, but they have handed it off to the CG and FAA as they have larger resources. We understand the Civil Air Patrol is also looking for them. I talked to the national Flight Service; Karen did not file a flight plan for her flight from Muskegon to Mackinac Island, which I knew, as, again, she was going to fly over the shoreline. And she also did not file a flight plan on Friday, and has not filed one yet today.
If you have tried to reach your Dad or Karen, you know the call goes right to voice mail, which means the phone is either out of service or turned off. I know that if she could, if she were in trouble, the first thing Karen would do would be to reach for her cell phone. I have also sent an email to her with no reply to present.
I have also talked to George, Karen's partner in the plane, and the airport at Gaithersburg, out of which they fly. I am told she cannot get into the restricted airspace without a flight plan, so the minute she files, we all will know of it.
We all are waiting and hoping for a good resolution.
Love,
Kathleen
Christian,
If you've been trying to reach your Dad by cell phone unsuccessfully, here's why.
Brooke and Karen left here (Muskegon area) Wednesday to fly up to Mackinac Island (at the tip of the Michigan mitt) for two days. On Friday afternoon, they planned to fly down to The Thumb of Michigan to my brother's place (Bill & Doranne). They called Bill to say they were starting around 1:00-1:15 pm, and that they would arrive around 3:00-3:30 pm. Bill and Doranne were there at 3:00 and waited until 4:30 pm and the plane did not arrive -- and still has not arrived.
Karen's plan was to fly low over the water (about 500 feet) so they could see the dunes, shoreline, etc. Unfortunately, just about the time they planned to take off, there was a bad weather cell in what would have been the middle of their route. Karen did have about three-quarters of a tank of gas (= about three hours of flying).
By the time we got worried last evening, all the flight offices at the nearby airports were closed. So I started calling at 8 o'clock this morning and have been on the phone ever since. I have called the Mackinac Island airport -- the plane is not there. I have called five or six nearby airports that she could have landed at, and she is not there. I have called the Coast Guard and they have no report of a plane in the water. I have also filed an official Missing Plane report with the FAA. I called the State Police, but they have handed it off to the CG and FAA as they have larger resources. We understand the Civil Air Patrol is also looking for them. I talked to the national Flight Service; Karen did not file a flight plan for her flight from Muskegon to Mackinac Island, which I knew, as, again, she was going to fly over the shoreline. And she also did not file a flight plan on Friday, and has not filed one yet today.
If you have tried to reach your Dad or Karen, you know the call goes right to voice mail, which means the phone is either out of service or turned off. I know that if she could, if she were in trouble, the first thing Karen would do would be to reach for her cell phone. I have also sent an email to her with no reply to present.
I have also talked to George, Karen's partner in the plane, and the airport at Gaithersburg, out of which they fly. I am told she cannot get into the restricted airspace without a flight plan, so the minute she files, we all will know of it.
We all are waiting and hoping for a good resolution.
Love,
Kathleen
The second email I received from Karen's mom
I received this email from Karen's mom, Kathleen later on Saturday:
Saturday, August 25, 2007 10:49 PM
Christian,
Here's the latest news on the search. I have also sent this info to Hilary so she will have it when she wakes up.
The Coast Guard called around dinner time (late) to say they were pulling back their boats -- which had been covering the islands near Mackinac Island -- and their airplane out of Traverse City. They say they will not resume their part of the search unless there is some concrete news.
The Civil Air Patrol Search & Rescue also called to say they had pulled back one of their planes for duty in the south of the state, but they still had four planes in the air: one is covering the area from Port Huron to Alpena including across Saginaw Bay and one is covering from Alpena to Mackinac Island, both going out and back. They have 60 people on the ground with receivers trying to find the electronic 'ping' activated by the plane's impact (ED Note: this cannot be heard under water). CAP is setting up a staging area at Gaylord and their planes will go out from there at sunrise. I asked how long they will continue, and he said "until we find them." So that's good to know. CAP is also looking at radar tapes from the Air Force base in Alpena. Their radar covers Mackinac Island and now that they have a better fix on the time Karen was ready to take off, they will review the tapes again to see if they can pick up her plane. I also corrected their description of the plane by giving them a website so they could go look at it. The officer was happy to have it.
The State Police called late and asked if either phone had a 'tracker' on it. I told her Karen has a Treo with Garmin on it, so she MAY have but I don't know for sure.
The Royal Canadian Coast Guard just called to confirm their information with me -- they also had the plane colors incorrect. CAP told me that RCC was helping them cover the shoreline on the Michigan side of Lake Huron.
That seems to be all the news until morning.
Love,
Kathleen
Saturday, August 25, 2007 10:49 PM
Christian,
Here's the latest news on the search. I have also sent this info to Hilary so she will have it when she wakes up.
The Coast Guard called around dinner time (late) to say they were pulling back their boats -- which had been covering the islands near Mackinac Island -- and their airplane out of Traverse City. They say they will not resume their part of the search unless there is some concrete news.
The Civil Air Patrol Search & Rescue also called to say they had pulled back one of their planes for duty in the south of the state, but they still had four planes in the air: one is covering the area from Port Huron to Alpena including across Saginaw Bay and one is covering from Alpena to Mackinac Island, both going out and back. They have 60 people on the ground with receivers trying to find the electronic 'ping' activated by the plane's impact (ED Note: this cannot be heard under water). CAP is setting up a staging area at Gaylord and their planes will go out from there at sunrise. I asked how long they will continue, and he said "until we find them." So that's good to know. CAP is also looking at radar tapes from the Air Force base in Alpena. Their radar covers Mackinac Island and now that they have a better fix on the time Karen was ready to take off, they will review the tapes again to see if they can pick up her plane. I also corrected their description of the plane by giving them a website so they could go look at it. The officer was happy to have it.
The State Police called late and asked if either phone had a 'tracker' on it. I told her Karen has a Treo with Garmin on it, so she MAY have but I don't know for sure.
The Royal Canadian Coast Guard just called to confirm their information with me -- they also had the plane colors incorrect. CAP told me that RCC was helping them cover the shoreline on the Michigan side of Lake Huron.
That seems to be all the news until morning.
Love,
Kathleen
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