UPDATE — EAA officials tell WHBY that two people are dead and two injured following a mid air collision between two copters on the south end of the EAA AirVenture grounds. At the same time, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office says both occupants of T-6 Texan aircraft killed in crash in Lake Winnebago. One body recovered. Victims identified as a man in his 20s and a woman in her 30s.
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OSHKOSH — Authorities are continuing efforts Saturday afternoon to recover an airplane that went down in Lake Winnebago earlier in the day.
The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center began receiving multiple 911 calls shortly after 9 a.m. on July 24 about an airplane that had crashed into Lake Winnebago, according to a sheriff’s office news release shared by WHBY.
(Related: NTSB investigating mid-air collision between two aircraft near Oskhosh)
Two people were aboard the plane at the time of the crash, and that recovery efforts for the occupants and also the plane are ongoing, according to the news release.
The crash happened in the area of the the area of Asylum Bay Boat Launch, which is on the western shore of Lake Winnebago, north of Oshkosh, and authorities are asking people to stay away from the area.
The U.S. Coast Guard on Twitter said the plane was a T-6 Texan, which is a common two-seat trainer.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary and local crews on scene reported debris and an oil slick in the area.
The plane was reportedly maneuvering before rapidly descending from around 3,000 feet, according to the Coast Guard. Water depth is around 20 feet deep with poor visibility.
Winnebago County Marine Units with Dive Rescue/ Recovery Team members, along with the Oshkosh Fire Department, Winneconne Fire Department, Neenah Menasha Fire Rescue, Calumet County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin DNR, US Coast Guard, and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary all responded to the scene to immediately begin an emergency rescue response.
The Winnebago County Sheriff’s office says they are also working closely with EAA, the NTSB, and the FAA.
“Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of the occupants of the plane,” read the news release.
