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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Liam Buckler

Bereaved son dies in plane crash while scattering dad's ashes from 'homemade' aircraft

A bereaved son died in a plane crash while trying to scatter his father's ashes on a memorial flight.

Lee Cemensky, 58, from Minnesota, north central US, had hired a plane out on Sunday evening to honour his dad's wishes.

Emergency services were suddenly called to Emily, which is roughly 150 miles from Minneapolis.

Pilot Douglas A. Johnson, 61, who had previously flown the plane for tourists in Minnesota, had failed to reach his intended destination two hours after setting off.

The plane had set off at 6.45pm on Sunday evening but emergency services were alerted at around 8.35pm after the aircraft failed to reach its landing place.

Emergency services were called to Emily, which is around 150 miles north of Minneapolis (Getty Images)

According to an early Federal Aviation Administration incident report the aircraft crashed while attempting to land - but the reason why is still unknown.

Douglas and Lee were sadly pronounced dead at the wooded scene.

Lt. Craig Katzenberger, of the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office, confirmed on Sunday night that Lee had managed to scatter his father's ashes before the tragic crash.

However, the officer described the plane as "homemade", saying the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.

Douglas had operated the aircraft which was named 'Fly The Swan'.

The Sheriff's investigation into the plane crash is ongoing (file photo) (Getty Images)

It was described on his website as an amphibious ultralight which "enables a bird's eye view of the lakes and the land you love along with the exhilaration of taking off from and gently touching down on the water."

Lee Cemensky, who recently moved from Las Vegas back to Minnesota after selling his business, was described as “good guy…good to all his customers.”

Joseph Hunter purchased Lee's Break Plus business in February and said he had owned the business for over 20 years.

Lee is survived by his wife Vikki, a son and a daughter, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Lee's father, Leo John Cemensky, died at his home in Fifty Lakes on August 7, according to TheHITC.

The Sheriff's investigation into the plane crash is ongoing.

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