NPR - If you get St. Augustine, FL news....

[SandyMM]

please contact me... I am trying to get local updates of the plane crash off Vilano Beach. Friends aboard...

[motorgypsy]

How terrible Sandy! Aren't they on the internet??

[Heidi]

I'm very sorry, I thought of you when I saw that the plane/people were from Rome, GA.
Heidi

Mon Dec 19, 0:38 AM

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - A small plane crashed off the Florida coast Sunday leaving at least one person dead, and the Coast Guard was searching for two missing passengers, authorities said.

The Cessna 195 was near St. Augustine in northeast Florida when it crashed around 1:30 p.m., Coast Guard Petty Officer Donnie Brzuska said. The cause of the crash was under investigation.

Missing were pilot Gary Tillman, 43, and his daughter, Hanna Tillman, 16, both of Rome, Ga., said sheriff's Sgt. Charles Mulligan.

Anna Kipp, 16, of Rome, Ga., was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead, Mulligan said. Rachel Hestetler, 16, was found in the water and is listed in good condition, authorities said.

The plane had left Craig Field in Jacksonville and was headed south to Fort Pierce when the plane went down, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Gary Tillman reported that the plane was in distress and unable to maintain altitude shortly after 1 p.m. A short time later the tower lost contact with the aircraft, Mulligan said.

Rain, strong winds and 7- to 10-foot seas made the search difficult Sunday.

Brzuska said the storm prevented the Coast Guard from keeping a helicopter and motor lifeboat involved in the search. An 87-foot cutter was sent in to assist, Brzuska said.

The plane was registered to Tillman.

[SandyMM]

There is hardly a nicer family around... Gary is an extremely well-qualified, experienced pilot. He was flying his 16 year old daughter and two of her friends to the Bahamas. Gary's dad, his wife and two younger daughters have gone down to be on-site. The Cessna 195 has doors on each side that open next to the pilot and 'shotgun' seats. The girls in the two back seats were found. There is some small amount of hope... Unfortunately, the seas were 6-10 feet...

[motorgypsy]

That is heartbreaking. I sure hope they find the pilot and daughter and that they are ok. :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[Barbwire]

Gosh, how terrible! I don't know what else to say...

[CarolU]

I'm very sorry Sandy. I read the news on this accident a couple times today. It does not sound good although they have at least one survivor.

I'm very sorry for your friend, and these girls were so young. :(

(((hugs to you))))

[SandyMM]

All just super nice people and Gary was an _excellent_ pilot - definitely not given to being careless... They haven't called off the search, but it doesn't look good at all...
http://www1.romenews-tribune.com/www_images/VilanoBeachCrash.gif

[Pasogirlz]

http://bestsmileys.com/hugging/3.gif

[Tami Pinell]

Oh Sandy - how terrible.
(((( very big hug ))))

[paso chikkaaaa.]

The world is truely a small place. Our Prayers and thoughts are with the families involved in this tragic event.

[Monty]

How sad - So sorry to hear of the loss of friends!

[Barbwire]

Just now watching the news on TV. It's heartwrenching.

[SandyMM]

Just an update... a shrimp boat snagged the Tillman's Cessna yesterday morning and by mid-afternoon they had recovered Gary's and Hannah's bodies... of course, the mdical examiner's office has to 'confirm', but family knows it is them. They have had overwhelming community support from the locals and will at last have closure in this terrible tragedy... There are no plans to raise the plane from the ocean floor....

[LynnG]

How is the one survivor doing? Did she have any injuries? Life is precious and can be so short some times.

[SandyMM]

I believe Rachel is back in school - but so tough to be the only survivor... She will have some ongoing issues for a while I expect. I was told that she survived _because_ she removed her life vest. The water was _so_ rough that she and Anna were being tossed around like corks. Rachel is on the swim team and was actually able to stay afloat easier once she ditched the life vest. She was out there for about an hour before they rescued her.