After 53 years of mystery, the wreckage of a small passenger jet has finally been discovered at the bottom of Vermont’s Lake Champlain. The Rockwell 1121 Jet Commander, also known by its registration number N400CP, disappeared shortly after taking off from Burlington Airport on January 27, 1971. Since then, it had remained an eerie tale until searchers made a breakthrough.
The aircraft’s final moments
The ill-fated aircraft took off from Burlington Airport en route to Providence, Rhode Island. That snowy evening, visibility was compromised, and within moments of departure, the plane vanished from radar screens. Initial searches were soon called off as Lake Champlain froze over just days after the disappearance.
A breakthrough in the search
Decades later, in 2022, a breakthrough came when teams equipped with advanced sonar technology embarked on a detailed survey of the lake bed. Prominent underwater searcher Garry Kozak and his team were key figures in this mission. Kozak’s expertise and dedication led to the eventual discovery of a debris field west of Juniper Island, approximately three miles from Burlington.
The importance of modern technology
For the precise identification of the wreckage, Kozak used a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). This piece of technology allowed for real-time video transmission to a processor on the surface. The EdgeTech 4125-P side scan sonar system generated images of the plane’s fuselage and enabled confirmation through visual evidence of the jet’s custom paintwork.
Details about the missing jet
The Rockwell 1121 Jet Commander was a ten-seat business aircraft designed to offer spacious and reliable air travel to corporate and private users. On that fateful day, it carried two crew members and three staffers from Cousins Properties, a real estate firm headquartered in Atlanta.
An undetermined cause
The cause of the crash remains uncertain. At the time of its disappearance, there was no mayday signal, and flight controllers lost contact without any prior indication of trouble. The National Transportation Safety Board categorized the cause as undetermined but has shown interest in reevaluating the newly found debris.
A momentous discovery for families
The discovery has brought mixed emotions for those connected to the victims. Garry Kozak expressed his relief stating,I’m just thrilled that we discovered it, and I’m really happy for the family members that are still around.
A new chapter in Lake Champlain
This revelation not only closes a half-century-old chapter but also highlights advancements in marine technology. Thanks to these technological leaps, long-lost answers might yet surface from depths previously unreachable.
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