The Pilot who laughs at Death

Harbor Beach, Michigan—Boaters from Grosse Pointe Farms are still flabbergasted they spotted --and eventually rescued--a missing New York Pilot in Lake Huron early Wednesday morning. 

Pilot Michael Trapp is currently in stable condition after being rescued from the lake—the pilot was stranded in frigid waters for an incredible 16 hours after his plane crashed. 

“He was quiet and very shaky because he was so cold,” said Gary Veenstra—a passenger on the boat that rescued Trapp and took the pilot to the nearby Marina at Harbor Beach. Veenstra went on to say that the 42-year-old pilot, although shaken and cold, was alert and optimistic despite his horrific night and battle to stay alive. “He even cracked some jokes after we pulled him into the boat,” said Veenstra.

Trapp was flying in a 1966 Cessna 150; the tiny passenger plane was travelling from Gouverneur, New York to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin when fuel problems at 3,000 feet sent the plane into a tailspin. 

Trapp was in contact with the Lansing Flight Service between 6 and 7 p.m. on Tuesday night. Shortly after Trapp declared an emergency, the plane crashed 17 miles east of Harbor Beach. 

Miraculously, by treading water and swimming nearly 15 miles, Trapp maintained a stable body temperature, which allowed the pilot to stay conscious for the 16-hour wait between his crash and 10:23 A.M. Wednesday morning--the time he was spotted floating in the water.