Christian Kath missing after Florida plane crash
A former Gympie man is missing and his wife and daughter are confirmed dead after a light plane he was piloting crashed off Florida in the USA.
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A former Gympie man is missing and his wife and daughter are confirmed dead after the light plane he was piloting crashed off the coast of Florida in the USA.
Christian Kath and his wife Misty, both 43, and their daughter, Lily, 12, were aboard when the plane went down in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday.
The couple’s other child, Harper, 10, was at a sleepover on the night of the crash and was not on board.
As the search continued on Wednesday, Mr Kath’s devastated Gympie family was trying to come to terms with the tragedy.
Mr Kath has been living in the United States for five years with his family and was the Chief Operating Officer of a major company.
After completing school in Gympie, Mr Kath moved to Dagun, just south of Gympie, and was operating manager of Kenilworth Cheese and then Superbee, before eventually relocating to Chicago and then Florida.
He and his wife were reportedly planning on returning to Australia soon to send their children to Moreton College.
Mr Kath made a haunting final post to Facebook in March 2022, celebrating his first solo flight.
“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. Started my lessons in late December and am about halfway though my private pilot license now,” he wrote.
“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.
“Feel lucky to live and be learning to fly in such a beautiful part of the world!”
A video posted to Mr Kath’s Facebook page also shows the light plane he purchased after getting his pilot’s licence.
The initial messages of congratulations under the photos and video have since turned to messages of support and sorrow.
US authorities say they hold little hope of finding Mr Kath alive.
Venice (Florida) police said it was believed Mr Kath and his family had flown to Venice from St Petersburg to have dinner.
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