Aircraft Wreckage Found in Lake Huron 17 Years After Crash

The SOCATA TB-20 Trinidad flying from Mackinac Island, Michigan, went down in August 2007.

Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 11:29 AM ET

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In August 2007, pilot Karen Dodds, 52, and her fiance, passenger H. Brooke Stauffer Jr., 56, disappeared while flying a SOCATA TB-20 Trinidad from Mackinac Island. [FLYING file photo]

Key Takeaways:

Wreckage and human remains from a plane crash that occurred 17 years ago in August 2007 were recently discovered in Lake Huron.
The crash involved pilot Karen Dodds (whose remains were recovered months after the incident) and passenger H. Brooke Stauffer Jr., whose remains have now been confirmed among the newly found wreckage.
A private firm, Great Lakes Search and Recovery, resumed the search in October 2023 at the request of family members, leading to the discovery near Bois Blanc Island in August.

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Wreckage and human remains from an airplane crash 17 years ago were discovered in Lake Huron earlier this month, according to Michigan State Police.

According to a report from CBS News Detroit, in August 2007 pilot Karen Dodds, 52, and her fiance, passenger H. Brooke Stauffer Jr., 56, disappeared while flying a SOCATAa TB-20 Trinidad from Mackinac Island. While Dodds’ remains were recovered two months after the crash, the aircraft and Stauffer were never found.

In October 2023, at the request of family members, a private firm, Great Lakes Search and Recovery, resumed the search. Earlier in August, the team discovered aircraft wreckage near Bois Blanc Island.

State police reported that divers recovered skeletal remains from the crash site that have been confirmed to be those of the missing passenger.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

Amelia Walsh

Amelia Walsh is a private pilot who enjoys flying her family’s Columbia 350. She is based in Colorado and loves all things outdoors including skiing, hiking, and camping.