Phoenix pilot found dead off Hawaii
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 21, 2007 12:00 AM
A Phoenix resident, who worked as a pilot for US Airways, was found dead Friday off the Hawaiian island of Kauai.
Ted Teichgraeber, 37, was last seen snorkeling off Ke'e Beach on Kauai on Thursday afternoon. He and a US Airways captain were snorkeling while on leave between flights. Teichgraeber had been expected back in the Valley today. His co-worker reported him missing.
Coast Guard and fire department searches Thursday were unsuccessful. A tour boat heading down the Kauai coastline discovered the body Friday.
Teichgraeber's sister, Tara La Bouff, said her brother has a wife, Jennifer, and a 3-year-old son, Nicholas. "Nicholas looks just absolutely like him, we're reminded of Ted every time we look at him," La Bouff said.
Teichgraeber had been with US Airways since 2000 after flying for Mesa Airlines. He flew Boeing 757s, said US Airways spokesman Phil Gee.
"Ted loved to fly; it was absolutely his passion," his sister said. "He put himself through flight school all on his own because flying was his dream." She said he was one of the first pilots from US Airways to fly the route from Phoenix to Hawaii.
Teichgraeber had longtime ties to the Valley. He had lived here since 1982. 1982. He attended Desert Shadows Middle School in Scottsdale and Horizon High School in Paradise Valley, and graduated from Arizona State University.
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