Coast Guard suspends search for missing pilot identified as Cape Girardeau doctor
MISSOURI (KFVS) - Coast Guard officials said they have suspended the search for a missing Missouri pilot and aircraft.
The pilot was identified as Steven Schumacher.
The search was stopped Sunday, Oct. 20 after crews searched 6,265 square-nautical miles for about 21 hours.
They were unable to find Schumacher or the aircraft.
"After the utmost consideration and review of all factors involved in this search and rescue case, the Coast Guard has made the difficult decision to suspend its active search efforts,” said Cmdr. Drew Casey, search and rescue mission coordinator from the Eighth Coast Guard District. “We extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Steven Schumacher.”
According to Dr. Maryann Reese, president and CEO of Saint Francis Healthcare System, Dr. Steven Schumacher is a trauma surgeon with Cape Trauma Specialists, a Saint Francis Medical Partner.
She said the Saint Francis family is keeping the Schumacher family in their thoughts and prayers as the search continues for him and his private aircraft.
According to Bruce Loy with the Cape Girardeau Airport, Schumacher flew out of the airport on Wednesday. He said Schumacher flies in out of the Cape Girardeau Airport often.
The Coast Guard and Secretaria de Marina are searching for an overdue Piper Aztec twin engine plane with tail number number N778PA.
No passengers were with the pilot.
Schumacher likely crashed in the Gulf of Mexico, according to coast guard officials.
A report came in from the pilot’s family member around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday that the pilot did not reach his destination.
Schumacher left Missouri on Wednesday afternoon and was scheduled to land in Gonzales, Louisiana at 8:30 p.m. that evening.
His last known position was 380 nautical miles south of Louisiana and 300 nautical miles east of Corpus Christi, Texas.
An online flight tracker’s last contact for the plane indicated it was about 50 feet above the water.
The National Hurricane Center issued its first advisory on Thursday morning for Potential Tropical Cyclone 16. It’s likely to become a tropical or subtropical storm later on Thursday.
Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile HC-144 Ocean Sentry air crew and Secretaria de Marina vessel are involved in the search.
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