Search Turns Up Nothing for Plane, Pilot Missing Near Duluth
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DULUTH-The Duluth squadron of the Civil Air Patrol and the coast guard scoured flight lines from the Twin Cities to the Northland on Sunday after a plane goes missing after a Friday take-off.
The airplane, identified as a 'Piper' twin engine, departed Fleming Field in South St. Paul two day ago, according to sources used by searchers.
The pilot and plane have not been seen since.
Lynsdale Flying Service confirms that Michael Bratlie, a Lakeville man, owns the missing plane. There is no certainty, however, that he is the one who was flying that plane.
According to one of Bratlie's online accounts he is a former captain with Northwest Airlines. He currently is on the board of directors for "Vernacular Video Mission International" - a group connecting churches overseas with video technology.
Ten planes with the Civil Air Patrol flew the route most likely flown by the pilot on Sunday, public information officer Col. Jerry Rosendahl said.
Searchers listened for the emergency locator transmitter but have not found anything yet, Rosendahl said.
He also reports that cell phone and other tracking information is leading the patrol to believe the plane will be found closer to Duluth or even farther north.
The pilot of the missing plane did not speak with air traffic controllers and did not file a flight plan, Rosendahl said.
"Now I want to make sure that you understand that is not abnormal. General aviation pilots routinely fly without being in control of air traffic control or ideally filing a flight plan,” Rosendahl said.
The civil air patrol also did ground sweeps in vans and said the Coast Guard may have already finished their part of the search.
Depending on the weather, crews in the air may need to stop the search before Monday morning.
