By Paul Garrod
Staff Writer
SOUTH HAVEN – An airplane reported missing late Tuesday night, Aug. 2, was found early Wednesday morning Aug. 3, near the South Haven Regional Airport, from which it had taken off the day before. Both occupants, a 70-year-old Lawton man and a 70-year-old Wayland man, were deceased, according to a press release from the South Haven Police Department.
Authorities reported Douglas Golike, of Lawton, and David Peahl, of Wayland, were killed in the crash. According to the press release, on Aug. 2, at approximately 11:30 p.m., the South Haven Police Department was contacted by the FAA, of Chicago, in reference to a missing/unaccounted aircraft. FAA officials said the plane had left the South Haven Regional Airport in the morning hours of Aug. 2, and had not had any contact with anyone since.
South Haven Police were assisted by multiple departments during the search of the missing aircraft, including the FAA, Michigan State Police, Van Buren Sheriff’s Office and Allegan County Sheriff’s Department, and the United States Air Force.
The aircraft was found early Wednesday morning by the Michigan State Police Aviation Unit, approximately one mile north of the airport. The aircraft was an Aerospace 600. According to families of the two men, both were experienced pilots and instructors. Golike was the owner of the plane, while the Peahl was acting as the instructor. He was certifying Golike to fly the aircraft.
The investigation has been turned over to the NTSB.
