Authorities Identify 3 More Victims Of Plane Crash That Killed 6-Member Transplant Team

MILWAUKEE (AP) _ Three more members of an organ transplant team who died in a plane crash while transporting lungs for a surgery in Michigan were identified on Thursday. <br/><br/>The three men were cardiac

Thursday, June 14th 2007, 9:12 pm

By: News On 6

MILWAUKEE (AP) _ Three more members of an organ transplant team who died in a plane crash while transporting lungs for a surgery in Michigan were identified on Thursday.

The three men were cardiac surgeon Martinus Spoor; transplant specialist Richard LaPensee; and David Ashburn, a physician-in-training in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery, the Milwaukee County medical examiner's office said.

Remains of pilots Dennis Hoyes and Bill Serra had been recovered and identified earlier through dental records and DNA analysis.

The sixth occupant, transplant donation specialist Richard Chenault II, had not been identified but medical examiner's office said it was confident that an identification could be made ``in the near future'' through DNA analysis.

The University of Michigan hospital team died June 4 when their Cessna Citation plunged into Lake Michigan shortly after taking off from General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee. Moments earlier, a pilot reported a problem with the plane's trim system, which controls bank and pitch.

Authorities have said weather was not a factor in the crash, which is still under investigation.

The plane was headed to Willow Run Airport near Detroit carrying donor lungs for a critically ill patient. The patient had a transplant later in the week with organs from another donor.

The donor organs the plane was carrying came from a patient at Columbia St. Mary's Hospital in Milwaukee, where officials held a memorial service Thursday, said spokeswoman Kathleen Schmitz said.

In a 30-minute service, the Rev. Vicki Watkins told about two dozen attendees the spirit of the six men endures. ``They'll be remembered as doing what they loved: helping others, helping strangers,'' she said.

Funeral services for Hoyes were held Thursday in Jackson, Mich.