ASA Members Recovers Crashed Cessna Aircraft

On June 7, 2007, a member of the American Salvage Association (ASA) was contracted to respond to the crash of a Cessna jet aircraft, which crashed into Lake Michigan on June 4. The N550BP Cessna Citation jet aircraft was carrying two pilots and a four-member medical transplant team from the University Michigan Medical Systems Department when it crashed into Lake Michigan off Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The United States Coast Guard and civil authorities immediately mobilized their search and rescue teams. After an extensive search, it was determined that the plane had impacted the water at high speed and there were no survivors. Parts of the plane were scattered over 30 acres at depths exceeding 60 feet. The mission then changed to one of recovery led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Milwaukee Police Department.

The ASA member provided assistance in recovering the wreckage of the aircraft working under direction of the NTSB, first formulating a recovery plan. Recovery of the crew remains and personal effects was made the priority. On June 14, 2007 authorization was given for the ASA member team to commence recovery operations. The NTSB briefed the team as to the plane components key to determining the cause of the crash. The first pieces of wreckage were recovered that afternoon. Over the next two weeks more than 90 percent of the jet, including all of the priority aircraft components, were recovered.