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Hernando Today

Search Ends For Local Pilot

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By TONY HOLT

Published: February 24, 2008

SPRING HILL - SPRING HILL - The search for a pilot near the coast of

Iceland is over, but his family's pursuit of closure

may continue for a while.

No plane wreckage, life raft or body was discovered,

despite a 36-hour rescue effort conducted by Icelandic

and British authorities, according to the pilot's

family.

Greg Frey Sr. was flying a single-engine Piper Cherokee

plane from Reykjavik, Iceland, to Scotland, but was

forced to make a mayday call and "ditch" the aircraft

when he flew into a severe storm Thursday evening.

"The weather kept getting progressively worse," said

Frey's son, Greg Jr., who traveled Thursday from

California to Spring Hill to be with his family.

Rescuers were undeterred as they searched a wide area

through heavy showers and violent waves.

Frey, 66, was about 100 miles south of Iceland when he

made the call. He was wearing a survival suit and an

emergency transponder sent a distress signal, which

confirmed the plane crashed at sea.

The search was called off before 6 a.m. EST Saturday.

"The family still has that small bit of hope," said

Frey's son, who was fielding calls from friends

throughout the weekend.

He now believes it is time for the family to move

toward accepting the harsh reality. The 20-foot storm

swells and icy conditions make it nearly impossible for

Frey to have survived this long after the crash.

Rescuers risked their own lives to conduct the search,

a fact the family has not overlooked.

"Everything that could possibly be done was done,"

Frey's son said, his voice shaking slightly. "We're

trying to search for closure now. That's where we're

heading."

The family hopes to have all the funeral arrangements

planned by today.

Frey (pronounced "Fry") was less than a week from

celebrating his 33rd wedding anniversary with his wife,

Maureen. March 4 would have been his 67th birthday.

Greg Frey Jr. has heard from several of his old

acquaintances from school, many of whom he had not

spoken to in years. They all were fond of his dad, who

had a penchant for sharing his love for planes by

taking his kids' friends with him on flights.

"I've been on the phone all day long for the past

couple of days," he said. "That really gives you the

strength to carry on."

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or

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