Crews have recovered the body of the pilot whose plane crashed into Weiss Lake around 10 a.m. Saturday morning, Sept. 15. The recovery was made around 12:40 p.m.

Beverly Daniel, director, Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency, said Cherokee County E911 Dispatch received a call around 10 a.m. that a plane had crashed into the lake directly behind Riverside Campground in the Cedar Bluff area.

"According to our information, the pilot was attempting to land and clipped the main power line which caused him to crash into the (Weiss) Lake," said Daniel.



The pilot, Daniel said, was the only one on board at the time and unfortunately did not survive the crash. His name will be released pending notification of kin.

According to reports, the pilot left Guntersville in the small one-engine, four seater plane this morning enroute to visit friends in this area, Daniel said.

The crash took place in the main river channel in approximately eight to 10 feet of water, Daniel said. As of mid-afternoon Saturday, the plane remain submerged, upside down, securely tied to a stump until it can be safely removed.

Early reports indicated that fuel leaking into the lake was minimal and not enough to cause an environmental hazard.

Initial reports indicated that some 3,500 Cherokee Electric Cooperative customers were without power because of the downed line. Power has been restored by bypassing the downed line which crews killed until TVA can make the necessary repairs, reports said.

More information will be released as it becomes available.

"We just ask everybody to stay out of the area right now," said Daniel "We don't know how long it is going to take to get the power lines restored. Just kind of bear with us."

Several local agencies responded included the Cedar Bluff Police Department, Cedar Bluff Fire Department, Centre Fire Department, Cherokee County Rescue Squad, Alabama State Troopers, Piedmont Rescue Squad, Fischer Rescue Squad, the Cherokee County Sheriff's Ooffice and others.