Frank Wilder, a 49‑year‑old white male from South Burlington, Vermont, was declared missing on **January 27, 1971**, when he disappeared as a passenger aboard a private corporate jet that vanished minutes after takeoff.
At approximately **7:00 p.m.** on that evening, amid snowy conditions, a **Rockwell Jet Commander ** lifted off from Burlington International Airport bound for Providence, Rhode Island.
The aircraft was carrying five men: pilot **George Nikita**, co‑pilot **Donald Myers**, and passengers **Robert Ransom Williams III**, **Richard “Kirby” Windsor**, and **Frank Wilder**. Shortly after takeoff—mere minutes later—the plane disappeared from radar. No distress call was received, and no immediate wreckage or wreckage markers were located.
Within days the surface of **Lake Champlain froze over**, making search efforts especially difficult. During the **spring thaw of 1971**, a few pieces of debris washed ashore near **Shelburne Point, Vermont**, including a tire and rim, window assembly, insulation, an oxygen tank, and radio parts. However, no major wreckage or human remains were recovered at that time. Despite at least **17 search operations** over the decades—including a large sonar‑based effort in 2014—the plane remained unlocated deep in the lake.
In **June 2024**, a breakthrough occurred. Underwater researcher **Garry Kozak** and his team, using sonar data and a remotely operated vehicle identified wreckage approximately **200 feet beneath the waters near Juniper Island**, close to where Burlington’s tower last tracked the flight. The wreck’s paint scheme and location matched the missing Jet Commander, leading Kozak to estimate **99 percent certainty** that it was the long‑lost aircraft.
Frank Wilder’s **son—also named Frank Wilder—** expressed a mix of relief and renewed grief upon learning of the discovery. He shared that, while finally knowing the aircraft’s location brought closure after **53 years**, it also surfaced “other questions” that the family now faces. Similarly, **Barbara Nikitas**, the niece of pilot George Nikita, described the finding as both “peaceful” and deeply saddening, noting how difficult it has been to process what has emerged.
The **National Transportation Safety Board ** has initiated an investigation to confirm definitively whether the wreckage is indeed the missing jet. As the NTSB does **not** handle salvage operations, decisions regarding recovery of remains or major debris will need to be made by family members or other agencies, weighing the expense and potential value of such efforts.
Today, **Frank Wilder remains listed as Missing Person NamUs case MP 26244**, with physical descriptors recorded as height between **5′0″ and 5′10″**, weight between **150 and 250 lbs**, and **black hair**. The discovery of the jet’s wreckage provides long‑sought answers about the fate of Wilder and the other four men, yet the case continues to challenge those left behind with the emotional and procedural complexities of finally confronting a tragedy more than half a century old.Last Seen: Jan 27, 1971
