Plane Crashes In South Haven: 2 Dead, Wreckage Found 24 Hours Later

SOUTH HAVEN, MI — Two men died Tuesday in a plane crash in southwestern Michigan, but the wreckage wasn't found until 24 hours later, according to reports.

The plane crashed shortly after take-off around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday near South Haven Regional Airport, police Chief Natalie Thompson told media outlets. However, the crash site, about a mile from the airport, wasn't found until the following day.

South Haven is about 55 miles south of Grand Rapids.

The Federal Aviation Administration informed local police the plane was missing around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thompson said.

Two men believed to be in their 70s were found dead, officials said.

One of the men was from the Lawton area and the other was from the Wayland area, The Detroit News reported. The Lawton-area man owned the aircraft and the other was his flight instructor.

FAA records showed the plane was an Aerostar 600. The plane was destroyed, and the circumstances that led to the wreck remain unknown.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it is investigating the crash.

The Aerostar 600 and 700 series are have among the worst safety records in their class, according to The Aviation Consumer.

"The airplanes are not inherently dangerous. But they are not forgiving, either. They're difficult to get to know, and they require a great deal of routine and preventive maintenance," the publication said.