Gulf of Mexico Plane Crash: Pilot Was Doctor

A Croatian native who practiced obstetrics, gynecology and cosmetic surgery in Louisiana is believed to be the pilot of the Cessna airplane that was destined for Sarasota and crashed into the Gulf of Mexico Thursday afternoon.

Friends of Dr. Peter Hertzak, 65, told NOLA.com that they believe Hertztak had piloted the plane, but the pilot's body has yet to be recovered to confirm his identity. Hertzak operated Hertzak Laser Center.

Pilots at Slidell Municipal Airport told NOLA.com that Hertzak was an experienced pilot who had hoped to use the plane to train his sons to fly:

"Fellow pilots noted Hertzak had always been studying aircraft systems and maintenance manuals.

"He really took it seriously," said Bill Bradburn, a Slidell pilot. "He was a great guy and a hell of a pilot."

Pilot Patrick Quigley called Hertzak "very conscientious, thorough and professional."

"He had a good reputation as a pilot, a person and a doctor," Quigley remarked."

Two F-15 fighters under the direction of North American Aerospace Defense Command out of 159th Fighter Wing in New Orleans, intercepted and monitored the unresponsive plane over the Gulf of Mexico at approximately 9:30 a.m.

The Cessna 421 departed Slidell, Louisiana en route to Sarasota, and began flying erratically over the Gulf of Mexico. 

Flight tracking website Flight Aware reports that the plane departed Slidell, Louisiana and was headed for .

The NORAD fighters remained on station and monitored the aircraft until it crashed in the Gulf of Mexico at approximately 12:15 p.m. The fighters stayed on station to assist partner agencies in further efforts before returning to base.

 Raycom News Network says the Cessna seats six and the fogged windows, could mean the cabin lost air pressure.

The Coast Guard is still at the scene looking for Hertzak's body, The Los Angeles Times reports:

"We're saturating the scene," responding with multiple air and surface  assets, Kevin Robb, the command duty officer for the 8th District command center overseeing the search effort, said in the statement.

Robb also added that the Coast Guard has also requested assistance from good Samaritans in the area, but so far had not received any responses." 

Hertzak was named a "Health Care Hero" by New Orleans City Business in 2009 where he told the magazine he had performed over 2,000 tummy tucks and got interested in cosmetic surgeries after requests from patients:

"His facility also provides nonsurgical procedures such as intense pulsed light hair and pigment removal and laser skin rejuvenation.

A native of Croatia who arrived in Slidell in 1981 by way of Detroit, Hertzak is noted for his compassion. When Hurricane Gustav was approaching the area, he volunteered to be the lone physician to stay at the Doctor’s Hospital of Slidell."

The plane was registered to a Delaware company, but the company declined to offer info about its clients, CBS News and The Associated Press reported: 

"Federal Aviation Administration records show that the Cessna was registered to Lee H. Aviation in Wilmington, Del. The address listed on the FAA registry corresponds with that of Delaware Registry Ltd., a company that provides corporate services and registers both airplanes and yachts. A woman who answered the phone at Delaware Registry said the company does not give out information about its clients."