Sonar Technology Brings Light to Cold Cases

Have you ever wondered what could be at the bottom of the local lake? As it turns out, you might not want to know. Recently, several stories have made national headlines—stories of cars, planes, and bodies discovered using side-scan sonar technology.

A side scan sonar in Kent revealed a WWII aircraft on the seabed.
Image: Wessex Archaeology / Flickr CC

In September 2013, Oklahoma state troopers found two cars with several bodies inside lurking at the bottom of Foss Lake in Custer County, according to NPR. The two cars sat side-by-side in about 12 feet of water, though they had gone missing nearly a decade apart—one in the early 1960s and the other in 1970.  Local authorities were testing out their new side-scan sonar unit when they discovered the vehicles.

Stranger yet, in Charlotte, North Carolina, an airplane was found under about 100 feet of water in Lake Norman. The small plane had no of human remains inside and could possibly have belonged to John Gibson or Barbara Anderson—both of which reportedly had planes sink on the lake more than three decades ago.

Last year in Canada, two cars were also found near a sunken harbor wall in Lake Ontario when a local team was testing its side-scan sonar.

For years now, an Idaho couple has been traveling around the country aiding in search efforts for drowning victims—to date Gene and Sandy Ralston have helped recover 80 bodies.

Why hasn’t sonar been used more extensively if it’s so effective? The primary issue is the cost. The Ralstons have quietly spent about $100,000 on their equipment since 2000. Private companies often charge families tens of thousands of dollars for the use of their equipment. Most local authorities have not had side-scan sonar technology as a reasonable option until recent years.

Luckily, the technology has gotten far more affordable over the past few decades, allowing many local police and sheriff departments to invest in side-scan sonar. As more departments run tests and scans on local lakes, we’re sure to be in for some interesting finds.

Still want to know what’s at the bottom of your lake?