UPDATED: Thursday, December 20, 2018 9:29 a.m.
ADEL – The body of a pilot, Larry Bathof, 56, of Moultrie, and resident of Cook County, was recovered on Wednesday.
Bothof’s plane crashed on Tuesday.
Following the crash in Cook County, a multi-agency team, accompanied by a swift water rescue team from Thomasville, met at daybreak Wednesday morning and reentered the estimated mile-long debris trail located north of the area spotted on Tuesday that was completely surrounded and submerged by higher waters.
The team members arrived at the location and discovered the engine of the plane as well as the body of Bothof.
Bothof was found submerged in an area approximately four feet deep but surrounded by water that was eight- to fifteen-feet deep in places. The area was accessed by the use of an amphibious all-terrain vehicle and boats.
Bothof was transported by the Cook County Coroner’s Office to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.
Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board were on the scene at the crash location and continue to investigate the cause of the accident. The wreckage that could be reached and recovered was transported to a secure facility for their further examination.
On Tuesday, shortly after take-off, a resident on Arthur Tillman Road, not far from the Cook County Airport, found several items in his yard that appeared to be from an airplane.
When first responders began searching, they discovered additional evidence of a plane crash, including portions of the tail of the plane which displayed the Federal Aviation Administration registration number for the aircraft. The number revealed the plane to be a locally-owned, fixed-wing, single-engine Sabrewing civilian aircraft that left the Cook County airport earlier that day with Bothof, the pilot and only passenger, on board.
The main location of the crash was in a slough completely covered in water from recent heavy rains that back up into the Little River. A helicopter from the Georgia State Patrol Aviation Unit responded to the area to assist in locating the wreckage debris trail as well as to identify possible access points to enter the location.
According to a press release from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer, Captain William B. Exum, “Cook County Sheriff Doug Hanks wishes to thank the many agencies and individuals that assisted in the response recovery, and investigation of the incident. These include but are not limited to the Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Search and Rescue Task Force 2, Thomasville-Thomas County Swift Water Rescue Team, Valdosta Police Department, Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Cook County Coroner’s Office, Cook County Emergency Management, Cook County Board of Commissioners and Road Department, Cook County Fire Departments, and Grady EMS. A special thanks to Valdosta Powersports, which provided the amphibious vehicle, Pike Creek Turf, who provided a staging location for the operation, and the Stanley Storey family.”
Bothof was an avid pilot who loved to fly and lived near the Cook County Airport with his wife Cheryl.
ADEL – Officials from Cook County Sheriff’s Office have confirmed that there is an ongoing search for a pilot, a Cook County resident, whose plane went down Tuesday.
An E-911 caller from Arthur Tillman Road stated parts of what appeared to be a plane were visible.
In response, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, EMA, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Adel Fire Department were on the scene.
According to Brent Exum from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, attempts to reach the aircraft and pilot are continuing with the assistance of the Aviation Unit of Georgia State Patrol. Thus far, full recovery has not been successful.
The Federal Aviation Administration is involved with the investigation.
Once the pilot has been found the identity will be released.
