DATE: December 17, 2009 8:03:02 PM CST
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

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News Release

Date: Dec. 17, 2009

Contact: Coast Guard Public Affairs Office
(618) 225-9008

Coast Guard searches for overdue pilot

NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard is searching for a 50-year-old man who reportedly lost communications at approximately 9,900 feet after departing St. Petersburg, Fl., Tuesday, in a single engine airplane.

The Coast Guard received a call from the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at approximately 4 p.m. Thursday reporting that Mark Nichter, a 50-year-old pilot lost radio communications Tuesday, approximately 140 miles southwest of St. Petersburg, Fl.

Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile, Ala., launched an HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane and crew and are conducting a search.  An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast (UMIB) was also issued to mariners as a caution in the area.

 

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