Florida pilot's body recovered 5 days after crash into Lake Hartwell

Wayne Ford, Athens Banner-Herald
·1 min read
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Authorities on Thursday were able to retrieve a plane and its deceased pilot from a deep section of Lake Hartwell, Georgia.

The plane had crashed into the lake at about 12:40 p.m. Sept. 10. Authorities were unable to speedily retrieve the plane due to it crashing at the deepest part of the lake, sinking to a depth of 121 feet, according to Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland.

Rescue workers removed the body of Todd Jeffrey Carrell, 55, of North Port, Florida, at about 6 p.m. Thursday with specialized help from Atlanta Air Recovery, Upstate Dock Repair and diving specialists from Lake Jocassee, noted the Hart County Sheriff's Office.

FILE - A small tree and marker with a U.S. flag are visible near State Highway 24 double bridges, as fog lays low on Lake Hartwell Friday, August 26, 2022. The body of a Florida pilot was recovered on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, after the plan crashed into the lake five days earlier.
FILE - A small tree and marker with a U.S. flag are visible near State Highway 24 double bridges, as fog lays low on Lake Hartwell Friday, August 26, 2022. The body of a Florida pilot was recovered on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, after the plan crashed into the lake five days earlier.

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The cause of the crash is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.

Cleveland said Friday that there were four boats in the area on Saturday. Those on the boats witnessed the crash and marked the area where the plane went down.

After the crash, Hart County Emergency Management and Fire Department personnel responded. On the second day of diving they were able to confirm the pilot was still inside the plane, according to Cleveland.

However, due to the depth of the plane, divers could not remove the body, he said. Assistance was then sought from the other parties who managed to retrieve Carrell and the plane three days later.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Plane crash at Lake Hartwell: Pilot Todd Carrell's body recovered