Folsom Lake plane wreckage located

A company in El Dorado County that specializes in underwater survey equipment may have helped solve a 56-year mystery last week with sonar images that have located an aircraft deep in the waters of Folsom Lake that is likely wreckage from a 1965 crash that has since never been located, despite several attempts. Seafloor Systems, Inc., in Shingle Springs has reported with various members of the media that aircraft was spotted while the company was reportedly testing underwater survey equipment recently. It was then the plane was spotted, some 160 feet underwater. Since the initial sighting, the company then sent down a remote camera and captured additional images of the aircraft. They report the plane still appears to be intact at the bottom of the lake. Images that show the plane's tail and propeller being visible, however, they were not able to fully identify the aircraft. "We could see the fuselage, we could see the right wing. We could see the tail," said Seafloor System's Josh Tamplin. While it has yet to be confirmed, it is suspected the findings are that of that long missing plane that crashed into the lake in 1965. The Folsom Telegraph has contacted the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department, which was overseeing the most recent search in 2014, officials have not directly responded to inquiries regarding possible future recovery efforts with the new findings that have finally established the plane's location. However, authorities are scheduled to meet with Seafloor Systems this week to review the findings and evaluate possible recovery efforts ahead. It was on New Year's Day in 1965 when a mid-air collision occurred around 12:30 p.m. over Folsom Lake. Archived reports state a white Piper Comanche aircraft collided with a Beechcraft Debonair that departed from Sacramento Municipal Airport. NTSB reports indicated the crash was the result of pilot error in not seeing one another. The Debonair received damage but managed to return to the airport, flown by pilot Curtis Metcalf, while the Comanche fell from 2,500 feet in the air into the lake, sinking in the area near Beals Point. Initial rescue and recovery efforts shortly after the crash were reportedly hampered by severe storm conditions. A Gold Country Media newspaper article from 1965 reported that four occupants were on the plane and presumed dead. The newspaper reported the victims as pilot James Marshall, 51, and passengers Ford Marshall, 50, Helen Gotcher and Glen Emick, 15. The body of pilot James Marshall was discovered the same day as the crash, the three others have never been located as officials previously were unable to locate the aircraft due to the depth of the water. The last time Folsom Lake hit record-low water levels, in 2014, crews resumed the search for the plane but were unable to accurately locate it. "I think it's amazing that after all this time," said Seafloor technician Tyler Atkinson. "There's been a lot of research and a lot of effort put into finding this for the family and also to retrieve what no one knew was down there." The Folsom Telegraph will continue to provide coverage of this developing story as future plans and details are released.