Pelee Island's mayor wondered yesterday why a fatal flight that led to 10 deaths was even attempted, as police divers prepared to recover the bodies of those killed in Saturday's crash into Lake Erie. OPP investigators and federal Transportation Safety Board officials had little new to say about the crash, which happened about 4:40 p.m, shortly after the Cessna took off from the island's airstrip.

But Mayor Bill Krestel -- who drove to the airport after the crash -- says freezing rain was pounding the area when the plane left for Windsor after a weekend hunting trip by its passengers.

"I know that if it were up to me, I wouldn't have gotten on that plane," said Krestel, a frequent flier himself.

"It was really bad, that much I know. When you have that much ice coming down, it's not safe."

A Coast Guard icebreaker was closing in yesterday on the location of the Cessna 208B Caravan that plummeted into the icy depths of the lake.

The Samuel Risley will remain on the semi-frozen lake, scanning the bottom with a remote-controlled camera, for at least the next 48 hours, weather permitting.

Meanwhile, police divers will assess when it's safe to begin the task of recovering the bodies.

"Our No. 1 priority is reuniting the victims with their families, (but) we have not located anyone," OPP Staff Sgt. Doug Babbitt said at a news conference in nearby Kingsville. "The divers are there ready to go, they are extremely experienced in this area and they will seize any window of opportunity to get the job done."

The crash killed all 10 aboard the Cessna, including a group of eight friends and their two dogs returning to Windsor from an annual Pelee Island pheasant-hunting expedition.

Among the victims was a 30-year veteran of Chatham's police force.

OPP divers from Gravenhurst yesterday began collecting debris, including personal items and plane parts, scattered across a wide area of ice.

The wreckage is submerged in about 7.5 metres of water.

The Risley, which will be used as the divers' platform during the next two days, draws about 5.2 metres of water and was moving slowly to ensure it didn't disturb the plane, said Essex County OPP Insp. Chris Sharpe, overseeing 26 officers involved in the probe.

"They're virtually going in there blind," Sharpe said. "They must approach the area with great caution."

He said the weather was co-operating with the searchers and is expected to stay clear until at least tomorrow. He couldn't give any indication of when the bodies would be brought to the surface.

"The forecast is for a (clear), 48-hour window and (the divers) are going to work as long as they can with the daylight. We're at the mercy of the weather."

Night dives aren't allowed, Sharpe said, but the divers could have hit the water as early as yesterday afternoon.

"The divers are there, ready to go and they will seize any window . . . because (today) could bring worse weather."

The Cessna 208B Caravan went down 500 metres west of Pelee Island.

Four of the dead were from Chatham-Kent.

Denis Rivard, a Transportation Safety Board of Canada official, said there is no indication whether the plane skidded along the ice before falling into the water or broke through on impact.

Flight is the only way in and out of Pelee Island during the winter and the crash has had a major effect on the community, said Krestel, who flies as often as four times a month.

"Everybody's affected . . . whether it's as a result of losing a friend or whether it's a result of being afraid to fly an airplane," he said. "It's hard for us, but our hearts go out to the families of the victims of this terrible tragedy. We have nothing to deal with compared to (them)."

CCGS SAMUEL RISLEY

Type: Medium navaids tender/ light icebreaker

Year built: 1985

Home port: Parry Sound

Complement: Nine officers and 13 crew

Main hoist: Liebherr Crane - 15 tonne (Special lift of as much as 22.5 tonnes when required)

Cruising range: 31,000 km

Length: 69.73 m

Beam: 13.7 m

Draft: 5.2 m

Gross tonnage: 1,967