VENICE, Fla. - The Coast Guard and local agencies are currently at the scene of a debris field located about 10:30 last night after witnesses reported a small plane crash to 911. Shortly after finding the debris field last night, the body of a deceased female was located and taken into custody by the Sarasota Sheriff's Office.
A husband and wife couple and a friend of theirs, all from Ann Arbor, Mich., were on the AC-11 Commander single prop plane. The plane's departure point was tracked to Saline, Mich., and they are believed to have been visiting family in Venice. The plane's last known communication was with Tampa Airport three hours prior to the crash, which occurred around 9:45 p.m. There were no May Day transmissions reported.
The debris and the body were located in about 25-feet of water last night one mile west of Venice Municipal Airport during a search conducted by a Coast Guard Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Clearwater and a rescue boat from Station Cortez, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) and Sarasota Sheriff's Office and Fire and Rescue.
The Coast Guard Cutter Marlin assisted with the search throughout the night and is currently on scene with Coast Guard Station Cortez, the FWCC, Sarasota Sheriff's Office and local divers. Due to the condition of the body and the debris and the fact that multiple rescue units were on scene just minutes after the crash, it is believed there are no survivors. Weather conditions last night were calm and clear, this morning's seas are a one to two foot chop.
Names of the deceased are not being released due to next of kin not being notified yet. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be investigating the accident.
A husband and wife couple and a friend of theirs, all from Ann Arbor, Mich., were on the AC-11 Commander single prop plane. The plane's departure point was tracked to Saline, Mich., and they are believed to have been visiting family in Venice. The plane's last known communication was with Tampa Airport three hours prior to the crash, which occurred around 9:45 p.m. There were no May Day transmissions reported.
The debris and the body were located in about 25-feet of water last night one mile west of Venice Municipal Airport during a search conducted by a Coast Guard Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Clearwater and a rescue boat from Station Cortez, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) and Sarasota Sheriff's Office and Fire and Rescue.
The Coast Guard Cutter Marlin assisted with the search throughout the night and is currently on scene with Coast Guard Station Cortez, the FWCC, Sarasota Sheriff's Office and local divers. Due to the condition of the body and the debris and the fact that multiple rescue units were on scene just minutes after the crash, it is believed there are no survivors. Weather conditions last night were calm and clear, this morning's seas are a one to two foot chop.
Names of the deceased are not being released due to next of kin not being notified yet. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be investigating the accident.
