Coast Guard suspends search for missing Mississippi pilots after plane crash in New Orleans
By Shay O’Connor, Jasmine Franklin, Metia Carroll
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Lake Pontchartrain (WDSU) — The Coast Guard has suspended its search for two missing Mississippi pilots who went missing in Lake Pontchartrain after a plane crash Monday.
The pilots, both in their mid-20s, were conducting an instructional flight when their Cessna aircraft crashed in Lake Pontchartrain just 4 miles from Lakefront Airport.
Coast Guard crews searched by air and water for approximately 45 hours, covering more than 770 square miles prior to suspending the search, according to a statement issued by the Coast Guard.
“Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones impacted by this tragic situation,” said Cmdr. Michael Wurster, the Coast Guard Sector New Orleans search and rescue mission coordinator. “Suspending a search is one of the most difficult decisions we make, and it is done only after every effort has been made to locate those involved.”
According to the United Cajun Navy, search efforts were hindered Wednesday by strong winds and waves in the lake.
The United Cajun Navy has a seaplane flying over the lake in an effort to locate the plane and the missing pilots. The United Cajun Navy expects to have volunteer crews continue the search through the Thanksgiving holiday.
New information was revealed about the pilots Tuesday by the owner of Apollo Flight School, Michael Carasto.
Carasto, who owns Apollo Flight School in Gulfport, Mississippi, said his company’s Cessna aircraft was part of an instructional flight over the lake.
According to Carasto, the two pilots were both working toward commercial licenses.
The instructor, a woman, had 1,300 flying hours and was described as a “highly qualified” instructor. She was 300 hours short of meeting her requirement for airlines.
The student, a man, was short 250 flying hours for his license.
Carasto said because the flight was instructional, either of the pilots could have been flying the plane at the time it crashed. He said that it was common during instructional flights to switch off controls and did not want to speculate on who was flying at the time.
According to Carasto, the Cessna plane they were flying was a late ’70s or ’80s model, but he said it was maintained to regulation standards.
Carasto said he does not believe maintenance will be a factor in the crash and confirmed no distress call was received from the tower upon their descent to Lakefront Airport.
According to Carasto, the two pilots were descending back to the airport and crashed 4 miles out from landing on the runway.
He also described the challenges of night flights, especially over water. According to Carasto, there was “marginal weather,” but he said that flights over water specifically are challenging due to no clear horizon.
He said this can cause pilots to get vertigo but did not say if he believed that was a factor in this crash.
According to Carasto, the plane “pretty much disintegrated” on impact, and some parts of the plane, including a seat cushion, have been recovered.
Carasto described the crash as an unbelievable tragedy. He said that in his 46 years of being a flight instructor and pilot, this is the first incident he has ever had in his career.
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