Arizona fire captain, family presumed dead

Three bodies recovered from the wreckage of a plane crash in a rugged area of western Arizona were transported to the morgue in Lake Havasu City on Thursday afternoon.

The remains are presumed to be those of a veteran Lake Havasu City Fire Department captain, his wife and his son. But the Mohave County medical examiner has yet to make positive identification and determine cause of death.

Flags already were flying at half staff at several Lake Havasu fire stations in honor of Capt. Don Mesisca.

The 32-year veteran of the fire department was presumed to have been piloting the Cessna 182 that never made it back to Lake Havasu after departing from the airport in Glendale at dusk Sunday. Fire Chief Dennis Mueller said Mesisca, 53; his wife Rosie, 52; and their 20-year-old son, Brett, had attended the Arizona Cardinals-St. Louis Rams football game.

A Civil Air Patrol search was initiated Wednesday after Mesisca failed to show for his shift and authorities quickly learned that the plane never returned to the Lake Havasu City Airport. Mohave County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Trish Carter said the wreckage was spotted by air late Wednesday morning and that personnel were not able to begin any recovery effort until Thursday, when they reached the location about eight miles west of Alamo Lake and about 20 miles southeast of Lake Havasu City.

Mueller said he had worked with Mesisca for more than 30 years.

"He's like a brother to me," Mueller said. He said some firefighters have attended grief counseling sessions.

"It's a process we've got to get through. The guys are still out there on the engine companies. They're still out there doing their jobs," Mueller said. "We still have to function and we still have to protect the community while at the same time protect our mental sanity. It's a tough situation to go through and we'll be working through this for the next few days."

Sheriff Tom Sheahan said FAA and NTSB officials completed their on-scene investigation Thursday. He said the wreckage would be removed from the site, likely Friday.

Mueller said firefighters have placed Mesisca's personal effects at an "honorable spot" at Fire Station No. 4, his primary work station.

Mesisca was a skilled finance and savings strategist and an avid fisherman and hunter, he said.