Found Deceased MI - Richard Martin, 82, pilot, didn't return from a flight, Dowagiac, Cass County, 10 Sept 2023

[GuyfromCanada]

Dowagiac Police Investigate Missing Pilot and Plane

On Sunday, September 10th, 2023 at approximately 8:13 PM, Dowagiac Police were dispatched to the Dowagiac Municipal Airport for a missing pilot, Richard Martin (82 years old), and Martin’s Sonex Plane; Tail Number N569SX.

Dowagiac Municipal Airport Manager, reported to officers Mr. Martin regularly flies his plane for approximately 1-2 hours on Sunday Mornings.

Martin reportedly took off from the Dowagiac Municipal Airport at around 11 AM on Sunday, September 10th, 2023. A family member of Martin’s waited for Martin to return however, after several hours Martin had not returned.

At this time Dowagiac Police with assistance from the Michigan State Police, Federal Aviation Administration, Civil Air Patrol, and South Bend Air Traffic Control are still attempting to find leads that may lead to the location of Mr. Martin and his Sonex Plane.

Please see attached photos of Richard Martin and his plane.

This incident remains under investigation by Dowagiac Police. Anyone with information is asked to call the Dowagiac Police Department at (269)-782-9743, or the Cass County Tip Line at 1-(800)-462-9328.

Dowagiac Police Investigate... - Dowagiac Police Department

Dowagiac Police Investigate Missing Pilot and Plane On Sunday, September 10th, 2023 at approximately 8:13 PM, Dowagiac Police were dispatched to the...

www.facebook.com

Currently, the Dowagiac Police Department, Michigan State Police, the FAA, Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and South Bend Air Traffic Control are still attempting to find leads that may help them find Martin and his plane. Witnesses reported seeing it head north soon after takeoff.

Officials searching for missing plane, pilot out of Dowagiac

The aircraft is a small, home-built airframe with polished aluminum exterior and tail number N569SX.

www.wndu.com

 

[Greggsmomanddad]

If he was flying over water and crashed, could be hard to locate JMO

 

[IceIce9]

I love flying (passenger not a pilot) but experimental and home built planes scare me. JMO

 

[GraceG]

I love flying (passenger not a pilot) but experimental and home built planes scare me. JMO

I'm a pilot and there's some home builts I would pass on flying in. According to the www.faa.gov records Mr. Martin had his experimental aircraft repairmen certificate so he likely did a lot of the work on this airplane. If the photo is a good representation (this airplane looks to be in meticulous condition) I'd wager he takes a lot of pride in its care. I got the chance to tour the Sonex facility in Oshkosh about 10 years ago - really nice airplane. I hope Mr. Martin is found. (and I hope I'm still flying when I'm 82).

 

[GMS]

The search for RM and his plane continues. This MSM article from WSBT states more than 100 volunteers have joined LE and other patrols in the search.

I extracted this bit of new information. (bbm)

Searchers got word of a “ping” from Martin’s aircraft near Braybrook Road south of Lawrence, Mich. Searchers converged on a wooded area Wednesday morning, using all-terrain vehicles and on-foot."

More than 100 volunteers join search for missing pilot, plane in Michigan

The search for a missing private pilot from Dowagiac extended from air to ground.82-year-old Richard Martin took off at 11 a.m. Sunday morning and has yet to re

wsbt.com

 

[ifindedout]

The search for RM and his plane continues. This MSM article from WSBT states more than 100 volunteers have joined LE and other patrols in the search.

I extracted this bit of new information. (bbm)

Searchers got word of a “ping” from Martin’s aircraft near Braybrook Road south of Lawrence, Mich. Searchers converged on a wooded area Wednesday morning, using all-terrain vehicles and on-foot."

More than 100 volunteers join search for missing pilot, plane in Michigan

The search for a missing private pilot from Dowagiac extended from air to ground.82-year-old Richard Martin took off at 11 a.m. Sunday morning and has yet to re

wsbt.com

This would be consistent with the heading of north described initially.

Braybrook Rd · Lawrence Township, MI 49064

Lawrence Township, MI 49064

www.google.com

 

[makeadifference]

Does anyone know why the plane wouldn't show up on FlightAware? Unknown Flight - FlightAware

 

[GraceG]

Does anyone know why the plane wouldn't show up on FlightAware? Unknown Flight - FlightAware

View attachment 446861

Aircraft owners can choose to have their information not available to the public. The reason for this is corporate aircraft owners don't always want their competition to know where they are flying (as it what business deals might be being made). However Flight Aware usually then has a little banner that comes up that tells the searcher that the information has been made private, not this banner you provided. So I checked back the historical departures from Flight Aware (no cost for this but for that feature you have to register) for Sunday the 10th. There are multiple flights out of C91 airport but not for his airplane. This is likely because he didn't file a flight plan and didn't use any air traffic services. If so Flight Aware probably won't have anything on the flight.

 

[Unsolved]

Sadly he was found deceased:

"The 83-year-old pilot who vanished with his plane during a flight on Sunday has been found dead.

Richard Martin’s body was found Thursday afternoon in a crash site in some woods about 2 miles north of Dowagiac, Michigan Wing Civil Air Patrol said in a release."

<also>

"A Michigan State Police helicopter spotted the plane. Ground crews then found it and Martin’s body."

Pilot’s body found in plane crash near Dowagiac

The 83-year-old pilot who vanished with his plane during a flight on Sunday has been found dead.

www.woodtv.com

 

[LemonMint]

Rest in peace, Mr Martin My warmest condolences to his close ones. I hope they will find comfort by knowning he died doing what he loved…