Michael Trapp's plane crashed into Lake Huron Tuesday afternoon.
SAGINAW, Mich. (WZZM) - When he felt like he couldn't swim another stroke, a pilot marooned in Lake Huron says he thought about his wife and family and that's what gave him strength and kept him going.
"There were several times I was in panic mode," says pilot Michael Trapp. "While I was out there, the one thing I wanted one more time was to wrap my arms around my wife and my mom and hug the family just one more time."
Trapp,42, was alone, flying from his home in New York to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin Tuesday afternoon. He says his single engine plane lost power and he was forced to cash land in Lake Huron.
"When you become a pilot they teach you how to crash a plane," he explained from a hospital room at Covenant HealthCare Cooper Center Thursday afternoon.
Trapp says he barely escaped the plane before it sank, taking with it his electronic tracking device and waterproof cell phone.
"I really thought my plane would float longer than it did," he says.
Trapp says he survived the next 18 hours treading water, floating and swimming toward shore. He was unable to get the attention of anyone aboard a passing boat.
"A big freighter went by within 50 feet of me and I was screaming and screaming," he recalls. "Obviously they didn't see me."
Trapp took off a sock to wave at boats and finally he was seen by people aboard a 45 foot yacht.
"I about started to cry when they slowed down," he says. "I was like, "Oh my God, thank you, thank you.'"
The pilot is weak and dehydrated, but recovering.
"He's doing really well considering he crashed a plane," says Dr. Chad Richardson at Covenant HealthCare.
"My only real ailment is my muscles are so sore from swimming for 18 hours," says Trapp. "[That] isn't a long time when you are on vacation or partying, but I'll tell you, 18 hours is a long time in the water."
After this experience, Trapp isn't sure if he will replace the plane and continue flying. He says he might buy a Harley motorcycle instead.
"My passion for flying has diminished a little bit," he admits.