Sarnia

Watford Pilot Killed In Michigan Plane Crash

Michigan authorities say a 52-year-old man from Watford, Ont. was killed in a plane crash Wednesday afternoon.

The St. Clair County Sheriff's Office says a Twin Piper Seneca plane missed its approach to St. Clair County International Airport just after 1:30pm.

A pilot, from Watford, who had kept a plane at the airport in Kimball Township, was using the Instrument Landing System through Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

There was dense fog at the time.

After the pilot was advised he had missed his approach, the plane dropped off radar and a search ensued.

A signal from the plane's Emergency Locator Transmitter led authorities, after 5:30pm, to a plane in a field and wooded area behind a residence in the 500 block of Allen Rd., about a mile west of Marysville.

The pilot and lone occupant of the aircraft was dead at the scene.

He has been identified as Lawrence L. Zavitz.

The Sheriff's Office, Michigan State Police and Tri-Hospital EMS were called to the scene.

The Federal Aviation Administration was to begin an investigation Christmas morning.

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