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Michigan Plane Crash Kills Six

Investigators: Plane crash not due to weather By Dave Wischnowsky and Tim Jones Tribune staff reporters Published June 5, 2007, 1:06 PM CDT MILWAUKEE -- An investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board said today that weather did not appear to be a factor in the crash into Lake Michigan of a small plane that carried six members of a University of Michigan organ transport team. No one was believed to have survived the late Monday afternoon crash, which occurred shortly after the Cessna Citation departed from General Mitchell International Airport, en route to Ypsilanti, Mich. John Brannen, a senior air safety investigator with the NTSB, said the pilot radioed the airport tower of trouble shortly after takeoff and the tower had cleared the way for the plane's return. Brannen said the pilot reported problems with a "runaway condition," which controls the bank and pitch of the craft. There was no further radio contact with the plane, which crashed at 4:04 p.m. "In laymen's terms, it's very similar to a car wanting to pull in one direction or another," Brannen said. Searchers found human remains in a section of Lake Michigan about a mile from the shore, in 20 to 50 feet of water. More than 50 divers have been searching the area. Dr. Jeffrey Jentzen, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner, said that fragmented human remains had been found. "A high-speed impact (crash) on water causes explosive-type injuries," Jentzen said. Jentzen added that he would likely have to use dental records and perhaps DNA to identify the victims. The plane was leased by the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, according to a university news release. It is owned by Toy Air and based at Willow Run Airport near Ypsilanti, Mich. The plane was returning to Michigan with organs for a double-lung transplant operation. Dr. Robert Kelch of the University of Michigan Health System called the victims "wonderful, caring human beings . . . This is a tremendous loss for us," Kelch said during a news conference in Ann Arbor. The university identified those aboard as: Dr. David Ashburn, a physician-in-training in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery. Richard Chenault II, a transplant donation specialist with the university transplant program. Richard Lapensee, a transplant donation specialist with the university transplant program. Dennis Hoyes, a Marlin air pilot. Bill Serra, a Marlin air pilot. Dr. Martinus "Martin" Spoor, a cardiac surgeon who had been on the faculty since 2003. The university normally transports organs by helicopter, but for trips exceeding 200 miles they rely on jets, Kelch said. David Wischnowsky reported from Milwaukee and Tim Jones reported from Chicago.

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