Mystery of Missing Plane Solved After 17 Years with Astonishing Find

Seventeen years after its mysterious disappearance, the wreckage of a plane has been discovered in Lake Huron, revealing long-missing human remains.

At a Glance

A small plane that crashed in Michigan’s Lake Huron 17 years ago was discovered.
The remains of the passenger, H. Brooke Stauffer Jr., were identified.
The plane had departed from Mackinac Island in August 2007.
State police divers confirmed the remains using dental records.

Plane Wreckage Located After 17 Years

The discovery of the small plane’s wreckage, submerged in Lake Huron, marks an emotional milestone for the families and friends of those who vanished nearly two decades ago. The aircraft, a Socata TB-20 Trinidad, disappeared in August 2007 while en route from Mackinac Island to a small town in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

The passengers, Karen Dodds and her fiancé, H. Brooke Stauffer Jr., were onboard during the ill-fated flight. The remains of Dodds were found two months post-crash, yet the wreckage and Stauffer had remained undiscovered—until now. Great Lakes Search & Recovery resumed efforts in October 2023 at the behest of the families, leading to the underwater location near Bois Blanc Island this past August.

The wreckage of a small plane and its passenger were discovered in Lake Huron 17 years after they went missing, according to MSP.https://t.co/7ZuqAwHjj2

— FOX 17 (@FOX17) August 29, 2024

Identification of the Remains

Stauffer’s skeletal remains were identified by the Center for Forensic Anthropology at Northern Michigan University through dental records. This identification process has now allowed his family to find some measure of closure. Stauffer, 56, was a prominent figure in Washington, D.C., serving as the director of standards and safety for the National Electrical Contractors Association and a renowned author.

“He was a prolific writer, and the author of several technical books, numerous magazine articles, a children’s novel, and a guidebook for Washington, D.C.,” his obituary said.

Pilot and Passenger Background

Dodds, 52, was the owner of Dodds Design, a graphic web design and marketing firm. The couple lived in Washington, D.C., and were well-respected in their professional communities. The report on the discovery cites drift data and information from an ear-witness—contributing elements to the successful search efforts.

Missing plane, human remains found in Lake Huron 17 years after crash https://t.co/VylnO0v9Rm

— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) August 29, 2024

Efforts in Search and Recovery

The search for the Socata TB-20 Trinidad initiated after the plane failed to reach its intended destination. Despite a large-scale search in 2007, neither the plane nor any survivors were found, leading to the eventual suspension of search efforts. The MSP Marine Services Team played an instrumental role in collecting evidence and confirming that the wreckage belonged to the plane that crashed in 2007.

In October 2023, Great Lakes Search & Recovery, a private company, resumed the search efforts at the request of family members. “In August of 2024, members of the search team discovered plane wreckage near Bois Blanc Island.”