.png)
METALINE FALLS — An airplane that crashed into Sullivan Lake, killing the pilot in 2019, was found by a volunteer dive team Tuesday, Nov. 11, according to the Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office.
Kirk Neumann of Associated Underwater Services and other volunteers located a Cessna 182 Skylane airplane in Sullivan Lake east of Metaline Falls, approximately 270 feet deep.
The following day, it was confirmed to be the missing plane from an accident on Nov. 13, 2019, which took the life of pilot Terry Coleman. His body was found in Sullivan Lake several days after the incident. He was the only person in the airplane.
While the POC Sheriff’s Office was not involved in the discovery of the airplane, nor in any potential recovery of the aircraft, Sheriff Glen Blakeslee commended Neumann and the other volunteers for their efforts.
“I hope this brings a sense of closure to his (Coleman’s) family,” Blakeslee said. “Of course, I am curious as to what caused the crash to occur, but any recovery effort is a personal decision of the family and should be respected as such.”
