Plane Crash Victims Identified As St. Pete Family: Venice Police

VENICE, FL — Authorities identified the victims of Saturday night’s plane crash into the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Venice as a St. Petersburg family.

The pilot, Christian Kath, 42, and his wife, Misty Kath, 43, and their daughter, Lily, 12, rented a Piper Cherokee in St. Petersburg Saturday afternoon and flew to Venice, according to the Venice Police Department.

While Misty’s body was recovered from the water about 2.5 miles off Venice Beach and Lily’s body was found in the plane’s wreckage, the search continues for Christian.

On his Facebook page, Christian posted in March about earning his pilot’s license and flying solo for the first time. He wrote that he started his lessons in late December and was halfway through obtaining his license at the time of his post.

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“Feel lucky to live and be learning to fly in such a beautiful part of the world,” he wrote.

Before living in St. Petersburg, the family previously resided in Australia, Venice police said.

Officials have been communicating with the Kaths’ family.

After consulting with the U.S. Coast Guard, the search area for the missing pilot in the Gulf was expanded Tuesday morning, though the assets being used during the search have been scaled back, police said.

Boaters from Sarasota Bay south to Gasparilla are asked to be on the lookout for a body or small aircraft debris floating in the water. Those who spot anything are asked to contact the Coast Guard using marine radio on channel 16.

Divers will be present in the crash area, about 1/3 of a mile west offshore, on Tuesday, police said.

The recovered plane will be brought to a National Transportation Safety Board facility in Jacksonville for investigation.