Michigan Man Searches For Parents Who Went Missing in 1977 Plane Crash

In 1977, a plane carrying a married couple went missing in Northern Michigan. More than 45 years later, their son is still searching for them.

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John Block Jr. of Traverse City is sharing his parents' story and hoping Michigan hunters and outdoor enthusiasts will help in the search for his family.

Michigan Plane Disappearance: What Happened to John and Jean Block?

On July 4, 1977, John Block Sr. and Jean Block boarded an airplane in Detroit. John Sr. was the pilot and Jean the only passenger.

The pair were heading to Lost Creek Sky Ranch in Luzerne, near Mio.

John and Jean never made it and have not been heard from since.

Mr. Block had been flying for 23 years and had a private pilot's license. It's said he had only flown this particular route twice before.

Can You Help John Block Find His Parents?

At the time of their disappearance, John Sr. was 57-years-old. He's described as 5'7" tall and 140 lbs. Jean was 55-years-old, 5'7", and 175 lbs.

The aircraft is described as a 1969 green and white Cessna 150 J with the tail number N50935.

It's believed the most likely route the Blocks took that Fourth of July in 1977 would have followed I-75 North to M-33.

Though it was clear when the Blocks departed the Macomb County airport, storms moved in later. According to NOAA, in "The Independence Day Derecho of 1977" on July 4, 1977, fast-moving thunderstorms with destructive winds swept across Michigan. 

After the Blocks did not arrive at their intended destination, air, land, and water searches for the missing plane were conducted by the United States Air Force, Coast Guard, and other law enforcement agencies for approximately ten days. Additional searches went on for another four weeks.

As John Sr. avoided flying over water at all costs, the search has been land-focused, in the area of Huron National Forest or Atlanta State Forest.

It's believed the most likely scenario is that the plane crashed within a 30-mile radius of Lost Creek Sky Ranch due to some kind of navigational error.

Watch the below video to learn more about the Blocks' mysterious disappearance.

The Michigan DNR has shared it saying,

If you’ll be outdoors hunting, fishing or enjoying trails near Huron National Forest or the Atlanta State Forest, please watch this video. It goes over what the wreckage may look like and details on where the plane was last seen. While it has been many years, we hope passing along John‘s plea will help find his missing family.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office at 231-995-5002.