Hart County officials have identified the pilot who died over the weekend when the plane he was flying crashed into Lake Hartwell. Todd Jeffrey Carrell, 55, of North Port, Florida, was removed from the wreckage when it was lifted from the bottom of the lake Thursday evening.
It took searchers five days to retrieve Carrell’s body. The twin-engine plane settled at a depth of around 121 feet after crashing on Saturday. Due to the depth and position of the plane, divers were unable to remove him.
“This was a unique and challenging incident and a special thanks go out to all agencies involved from Georgia and South Carolina. It was a group effort of all involved in the recovery of Mr. Carrell,” says Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland.
The plane went down around 12:42 p.m. on September 10 near the Long Point Recreation Area on Lake Hartwell. A caller reported the crash to Hart County 911.
Hart County emergency crews responded. They were assisted by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office and Oconee County, South Carolina, Dive Team. Searchers used a remotely operated vehicle to help locate the plane. On the second day of diving, they found it and confirmed there was a body inside.
An air recovery team from Atlanta and dock repair and dive shop from Lake Jocassee worked to pull the plane from the water. At around 6 p.m. on September 15 they extricated Carrell’s body and turned it over to the Hart County Coroner’s Office.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the cause of the crash.
