Two Dead After Plane Crashes Into Lowell Storage Facility

Two Northern Michigan men are dead after a plane crashed into a self-storage facility in West Michigan on Monday.

Victims Identified in Lowell Plane Crash

Authorities say the victims were Kevin Lawrence of Presque Isle and Paul Schalk of Rogers City. The small aircraft went down around 4:30 p.m., crashing into Whistle Stop Storage about a half-mile from the Lowell City Airport—its intended destination.

Officials say the plane was an experimental RV-14, a type of homebuilt aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the crash.

Friend Speaks About Pilots’ Final Flight

A friend of Lawrence told WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids that Lawrence had taken off from Alpena and stopped in Oscoda to pick up Schalk. He said both men were skilled pilots, and it’s currently unclear which one was flying when the plane went down.

Where the Crash Happened and What We Know

In the video below, captured by a nearby surveillance camera, the plane can be seen flying from left to right across the screen, then banking sharply in the opposite direction before crashing into the storage facility.

Emergency crews from more than a dozen agencies responded to the scene, including the Kent County Sheriff’s Office, Lowell City Fire, Michigan State Police, airport rescue teams, and EMS. In total, 13 departments were involved in the response.

Officials confirmed that multiple fire, law enforcement, and medical units arrived quickly to secure the crash site, assist victims, and safeguard the surrounding area.

Representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board are expected on Wednesday (7/23) as the investigation continues.