A MISSING pilot shared a heartbreaking final post about his first solo flight before the plane crash that killed his wife and daughter.
Christian Kath, 42, said he was "proud" to fly alone weeks before his rented single-engine Piper Cherokee came down off the coast of Florida on Saturday.
The dad-of-two remains missing. The bodies of his wife Misty Kath, 43, and one daughter Lily, 12, were found at the scene.
The family, originally from Australia, lived in St. Petersburg and had a dinner in Venice before planning to return home.
The couple's other daughter is understood to have been at a sleepover when the crash occurred.
In his March Facebook post Christian wrote: "I flew solo for the first time today! Felt so proud to finally achieve something I’ve been wanting to do since I was 8 years old."
Records show Kath earned his private license on July 31.
He added: "Thanks for putting up with my early morning lessons and late night studying Misty Kath; it will all feel worth while when we can fly to the Keys for a weekend away with Lily and Harper soon."
His wife Misty replied: "So, so proud of you!!! I cannot wait for all our flying adventures."
The Venice Police Department said Tuesday: "The search for the missing pilot in the Gulf has been expanded area-wise, but assets have been scaled back.
Most read in The US Sun
‘Time traveller’ World Cup final prediction still on as both teams in QF
Gary Neville slams Ronaldo as he blasts 'the petulance & sulking have to stop'
Matt Lucas quits Bake Off saying it 'became clear' he could no longer host
Katie Price’s former husband Kieran Hayler arrested for ‘stalking’
"Boaters from Sarasota Bay south to Gasparilla are requested to be aware of the possibility of a body or small aircraft debris floating in this area."
Police Chief Charlie Thorpe told reporters on Monday that recreational boaters found the body of a woman floating about 2.5 miles west of the Venice shore.
A 12-year-old girl’s body was found in the wreckage of the aircraft, he confirmed.
“The search is continuing for the male,” the chief said Monday.
“We are still working on it extensively.”
It’s not yet clear what caused the plane to crash, he added and officials are investigating.
National Transportation Safety Board spokeswoman Jennifer Gabris said: "Part of the investigation will be to request radar data, weather information, maintenance records and the pilot’s medical records.
“NTSB investigators will look at the human, machine and environment as the outline of the investigation."
Source: Read Full Article