RACINE, Wis. — A private airplane flying from Dayton, Ohio, to Wisconsin disappeared near Chicago on Sunday evening, and authorities feared it crashed into Lake Michigan.

        The Cessna 182 left a Dayton airport for Racine about 4:40 p.m., but lost radio and radar contact with the Federal Aviation Administration about 6:20 p.m., FAA spokesman Tony Molinaro said.

        U.S. Coast Guard helicopters and Chicago Fire Department marine units were searching Lake Michigan for signs of wreckage Sunday night.

        It is not known how many people were aboard the four-passenger plane, which was brown and white, with the tail number N2359C, Mr. Molinaro said.

        David Mann, manger of Batten International Airport in Racine, said the plane was rented from his airport by a local flight instructor.

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