Couple from Alvin found dead after small plane crash off Florida Panhandle

DESTIN, Fla. – Search crews recovered the bodies of a local couple late Thursday after a plane crashed in the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida Panhandle, law enforcement officials said.

James Shumberg, 67, and 60-year-old Sheryl Roe were headed on vacation when something went wrong. The two are believed to have been the only people on board the Piper Archer aircraft, which was registered in Texas, according to a news release from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office.

The couple is from Alvin, Texas. 

Roe's daughter, Carmen, told KPRC 2 that the couple left the Pearland Regional Airport Thursday and stopped in Houma, Louisiana, to refuel. They were on the way to Destin when Carmen Roe said there was some type of mechanical malfunction. 

Dispatchers later received a 911 call from a man who reported seeing a small prop plane go down near Henderson Beach, the sheriff's office said.

Search crews found Roe's body in the water around 9 p.m. and the body of Shumberg about 45 minutes later, according to the sheriff's office.  

Searchers also recovered personal items and aircraft debris from the crash in the water and on the beach, the officials said.

Federal Aviation Administration investigators were working to determine the cause of the crash, according to the news release.

Carmen Roe released a statement to KPRC 2 that read in part: "My mom, Sheryl, and step-dad, Jim, were adventurers. They were looking forward to spending some time in the Florida Keys when this untimely and unspeakable tragedy occurred. Jim was an experienced pilot who never failed to be cautious whenever he was behind the controls and had made this trip to Florida more than two dozen times.

"My mom was a nurse for over two decades and devoted considerable time to the treatment of terminally-ill AIDS patients in addition to specializing in the treatment of pain management via acupuncture. My mom leaves behind five grown children and seven grandchildren.

"My step-dad, James "Jim" Shumberg" was a native Houstonian and veteran pilot. He is well known in Destin Florida as well as Pearland Regional Airport where he kept his plane. Jim is a business owner, entrepreneur and electrical training specialist. He travels all over the country with his business Electrical Training USA.

"Sheryl and Jim gave of themselves selflessly and will be missed by all the friends, family and countless others they impacted in their lives. Although their lives were cut short far too soon, I know they will not soon be forgotten."