COOK CO., GA (WALB) - A man is in mourning after he lost his friend, who was the pilot in a plane crash that we have been following out of Cook County.
On Wednesday, law enforcement identified that man as 56-year-old Larry Bothof.
Our sister station, WALB, spoke to the pilot's friend, who also assisted in the search efforts after the crash.
William Clapp owns Azalea Aviation and says Larry Buthof was more than a customer. He was a friend.
Clapp shared that he assisted in searching for Buthof, after hearing what happened.
He told me what was going through his mind during the search efforts.
"As a Christian, I wasn't worried about Larry. Another Christian would understand what I mean by that. I'm not worried about him," said Clapp. "He's taken care of. I'll be okay too so we almost go into a mode of 'okay, what happened?' and also taking care of his family."
Clapp said that Buthof asked him to go flying with him that day but he was not able to.
He said he cannot focus too much on what could have been and that he will miss his friend a great deal.
COOK CO., GA (WALB) - The body of a pilot in a Cook County plane crash was found Wednesday morning, according to officials.
Larry Bothof, 56, of Colquitt County, was identified after his body was recovered at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
The body, initially found at 9:30 a.m., was found submerged in 7-8 feet of water, according to Brent Exum, Cook County Sheriff’s Office public information officer.
Valdosta Georgia Search and Rescue (GSAR) and Valdosta Sports assisted in recovering the body and the body was taken to the coroner.
The plane, a single engine fixed wing air raid, belonged to Bothof.
Officials found the plane has lost parts early Tuesday.
A missing persons report was filed Berlin, which helped identify the pilot.
The area where parts are being recovered is over a mile long, Exum said.
Most everything in the recovery area, Exum pointed out, is full of water up to 20 feet deep.
Another wreckage area was found Wednesday morning, Exum said.
The plane left Cook County Airport where it was housed, according to Exum.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are working with law enforcement to find what they can in the investigation.
The investigation is wrapping up for the most part, Exum said.
Copyright 2018 WALB. All rights reserved.
COOK CO., GA (WALB) - Law enforcement agencies are investigating after a small civilian aircraft crashed in Cook County on Tuesday.
According to Public Information Officer Capt. Brent Exum with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency 911 received a call from a resident on Arthur Tillman Road who said he found items on his property that appeared to be from a plane.
The sheriff’s office, Cook County Emergency Management, Georgia State Patrol, fire personnel and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources all responded to the scene.
Exum said the plane that crashed had left the Adel Airport earlier Tuesday with a single pilot on board.
The crash happened in a slough, completely covered in water from recent rains, explained Exum.
Exum said attempts to reach the aircraft and the pilot continue with the assistance of the GSP Aviation Unit, but they have so far been unsuccessful due to the terrain and light restrictions.
The Federal Aviation Administration has been contacted and is headed to the location, according to Exum.
The sheriff’s office is requesting that residents avoid the location around Arthur Tillman and Pike Creek Road until further notice in order to allow rescue efforts to continue.
Copyright 2018 WALB. All rights reserved.
