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Plane Crashes In Gulf Of Mexico: Dr. Peter Hertzak, The Lone Pilot, Missing In Gulf Waters

The pilot was identified by Slidell Airport as Dr. Peter Hertzak of Slidell, La., reported NBC. The plane eventually ran out of fuel and crashed into the water, reported Reuters. It slowly began to sink to the ocean floor. Authorities believe that Hertzak was unconscious and was the only person on board the plane.

Hertzak took off from Slidell Airport en route to Sarasota, Florida when air traffic controllers lost contact with him, reported Reuters. He was approximately 28,000 feet over the Gulf waters and began flying around in circles for several hours on Thursday at approximately 9:30 a.m.

Bill Huete was a mechanic who worked on the downed aircraft in the past and met Hertzak,who was worked as an OB-GYN.

“I met him years ago when he was looking to start flying again and bought this plane,” said Huete, reported the Associated Press. “He flew by the book and he didn’t scrimp on maintenance.”

While the cause of the crash is still under investigation, it is possible he suffered from hypoxia, or a lack of oxygen.

“As the pilot was in the climb, the cabin was not pressurizing,” speculated Stephen Aynaard, ABC News aviation consultant, “so there was not sufficient oxygen to keep him conscious.”

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/330704/20120419/plane-crash-gulf-mexico-peter-hertzak-pilot.htm