NY NY - Albert Zeitler, 26, Batavia, 5 Nov 1979

[Coffee56]

Missing Person Case

Missing Age26 Years
Current Age64 Years
First Name Albert
Middle NameJ
Last NameZeitler
Nickname/Alias--

SexMale
Race / EthnicityWhite / Caucasian
Height5' 10" (70 Inches)
Weight165 lbs
Circumstances
Date of Last ContactNovember 5, 1979
NamUs Case CreatedMarch 8, 2011
Last Known Location Map
LocationBatavia, New York
CountyGenesee County
Circumstances of DisappearanceBelieved to have crashed into Lake Ontario while flying an airplane. Associated with NamUs MP 9643 and MP 9644.
Physical Description
Hair ColorBrown
Head Hair DescriptionCurly hair with a receding hair line.
Body Hair Description--
Facial Hair Description--
Left Eye ColorGreen
Right Eye ColorGreen
Eye Description--
Distinctive Physical Features
Item
Description
Scar/mark
scar on abdomen


Clothing and Accessories
No Information Entered
Additional Case Info

Transportation
--

Style--
Color--
State--
License Plate--
Expiration Year--
Comments--
Transportation Notes
Unknown type of airplane

 

[glamourkitty1922]

Four people were on the plane, only one was found Dennis Flattery alive Clipping from Press and Sun-Bulletin - Newspapers.com I don't have a newspaper subscription so I can only look at headlines. It seems that one of the families sued the estate of the pilot Michael Pfaff, but no details, and someone bought the salvage title on the airplane under 110 feet of water. Here is a comment by the Mom Clipping from Democrat and Chronicle - Newspapers.com The articles states the plane was a rented Cessna 172 four seater. It's a popular brand of small private plane.

 

[glamourkitty1922]

I found out more about the accident but ran out of editing time. The pilot sent a distress call at 1:43 stating they were at 3500 feet and had a flameout (dead engine). Buffalo took the emergency call and sent out Coast Guard. At the time Air Force reserve cargo planes (2 of them) heard the call and went to look for them. They saw the plane actually crash into Lake Ontario. They were able to give the CG accurate directions and the helicopter was able to pluck Dennis from the water. He was in 30-35 feet of water, although a news headline seems to suggest that the actual plane is in 110 feet of water.

 

[ohthatkatgirl]

From Democrat and Chronicle (Nov 25, 1980) -

In November 1980, Albert's family sued the estate of Michael Pfaff (the pilot) for $2.5 million. $1.5 million for Albert's death and the other $1.5 million for his injuries and suffering before he died.

Albert and Richard Phillips had been declared dead earlier in the year. Michael Pfaff had not been declared dead as no one had requested this to be done.

The suit alleged that Pfaff, the owners of the plane and the firm that leased the plane caused the accident through negligence. They alledged that the pilot failed to do a preflight fuel check, which is required by law. Pfaff was also negligent for flying over the lake when there was no lifejackets on board. He was also alleged to be not flying at an appropriate altitude for the plane to be able to glide to a landing.

 

[CastlesBurning]

Bumping for Albert...it's now been 41 years.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[VaYank5150]

Wow....there is SO little info on the Internet about this one...