WA WA - Floatplane crash into Puget Sound off Whidbey Island --9 passengers missing, 1 body recoverd in Mutiny Bay
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Seattle1
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1 dead, 9 unaccounted for in floatplane crash near Whidbey Island
The plane crashed in Mutiny Bay, west of Whidbey Island. It was traveling from Friday Harbor en route to Renton when it crashed shortly after 3 p.m.
www.seattletimes.com
9/4/22
One person died and nine others were unaccounted for in a floatplane crash Sunday afternoon near Whidbey Island.
The plane crashed in Mutiny Bay, west of Whidbey Island, with nine adults and one child on board, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. It was traveling from Friday Harbor en route to Renton when it crashed shortly after 3 p.m.
The body of a female was recovered, a Coast Guard spokesperson said.
Seattle1
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Coast guard suspends search for 9 missing people after floatplane crashes in Puget Sound
One person was killed and nine others remain missing after a floatplane crashed in Mutiny Bay west of Whidbey Island Sunday afternoon. A child was on board.
www.king5.com
Published: 4:56 PM PDT September 4, 2022
Updated: 1:46 PM PDT September 5, 2022
ISLAND COUNTY, Wash. — The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) suspended the search Monday for nine people who remain missing after a floatplane crashed near Whidbey Island.
At least one person, whose body was recovered Sunday by a good Samaritan, was killed.
“It is always difficult when it comes time to make a decision to stop searching,” said Capt. Daniel Broadhurst, incident management branch chief for the 13th Coast Guard District.
The plane was flying from Friday Harbor, a popular tourist destination in the San Juan Islands, to Renton Municipal Airport when the crash was reported at 3:10 p.m., according to the Coast Guard. The plane crashed in Mutiny Bay off Whidbey Island, roughly 30 miles northwest of downtown Seattle and about halfway between Friday Harbor and Renton.
Data posted on Flight Aware shows the plane last observed near Oak Harbor, which was 18 minutes into what is normally a 50-minute flight.
The floatplane didn't send a distress call, according to the Coast Guard.
Officials said nine adults and one child were aboard the aircraft. It is not known if the one confirmed death was the child or an adult.
Seattle1
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Coast Guard suspends search for 9 people missing in seaplane crash off Whidbey Island near Seattle
The Coast Guard suspended the search for survivors Monday, one day after a seaplane crashed off Whidbey Island in the Puget Sound.
www.usatoday.com
The Coast Guard suspended the search for survivors Monday after a seaplane crashed Sunday afternoon in the Puget Sound near Seattle.
One body was recovered and nine people were unaccounted for, including one child, the Coast Guard said. The plane, bound for Renton, Washington, had departed from Friday Harbor.
The Coast Guard said it was suspending the search after “saturating an area” of almost 2,800 square miles with ships, helicopters and planes.
“All next of kin have been notified of this decision,” the Coast Guard tweeted. “Our hearts go out to the families, loved ones and friends of those who remain missing and the deceased.”
Seattle1
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Puget Sound plane crash: Search called off, 9 presumed dead
One person has died, and nine others are missing after a float plane crashed west of Whidbey Island on Sunday afternoon.
MsMarple
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I'm on the tip of the Olympic Peninsula and was horrified when the news about this crash broke. Ugh. It was a 1967 de Havilland DHC-3 Turbine Otter. I don't know if any witness reports have been verified by NTSB or LE but last evening KOMO reported that an eyewitness said they saw the plane nose dive into the water. Here's the AP link about a witness:
The cause of the crash is unknown, authorities said.
Jon Gabelein of South Whidbey Fire/EMS told KOMO witnesses on the shore reported seeing the plane “nose dive into the water.”
Coast Guard ends search for 9 missing in floatplane crash
The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for nine people who were missing after a floatplane crashed in the waters northwest of Seattle.
apnews.com
The only thing I can imagine is that there was a medical emergency of the pilot. If the plane nosedived it would have been like hitting concrete.
By the time reporters got to the location the first video showed open water - no debris, no oil, nothing.
The plane is about 200 feet deep in the water.
In a statement, the Coast Guard said they covered 1,283 linear nautical miles and saturated an area more than 2100 square nautical miles during their search.
All next of kin have been notified of their decision.
Coast Guard suspends search for 9 people missing after floatplane crashes off Whidbey Island
Several agencies are assisting South Whidbey Fire in the response.
Seattle1
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I'm on the tip of the Olympic Peninsula and was horrified when the news about this crash broke. Ugh. It was a 1967 de Havilland DHC-3 Turbine Otter. I don't know if any witness reports have been verified by NTSB or LE but last evening KOMO reported that an eyewitness said they saw the plane nose dive into the water. Here's the AP link about a witness:
The cause of the crash is unknown, authorities said.
Jon Gabelein of South Whidbey Fire/EMS told KOMO witnesses on the shore reported seeing the plane “nose dive into the water.”
Coast Guard ends search for 9 missing in floatplane crash
The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for nine people who were missing after a floatplane crashed in the waters northwest of Seattle.
The only thing I can imagine is that there was a medical emergency of the pilot. If the plane nosedived it would have been like hitting concrete.
By the time reporters got to the location the first video showed open water - no debris, no oil, nothing.
The plane is about 200 feet deep in the water.
In a statement, the Coast Guard said they covered 1,283 linear nautical miles and saturated an area more than 2100 square nautical miles during their search.
All next of kin have been notified of their decision.
Coast Guard suspends search for 9 people missing after floatplane crashes off Whidbey Island
Several agencies are assisting South Whidbey Fire in the response.www.kiro7.com
I'm in AK and we have a lot of de Havilland DHC-3 Turbine Otters in operation here -- good safety record. The craft can accommodate up to 2 pilots but I agree -- most likely operator incident. Tragic, just the same.
Witnesses reported it sounded like a blast of dynamite. At the speed/ and rate of decent -- that sounds exactly right.
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter Crashes in Mutiny Bay WA
A privately owned DHC-3 Otter has crashed into Mutiny Bay WA with 10 persons onboard. 1 person is dead and 9 are missing.
aviationsourcenews.com
IceIce9
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Northwest Seaplanes is a family owned business founded by Clyde Carlson, according to the company’s website. It has 24-years of “accident and incident free flying,” the website said.
www.nbc15.com
Coast Guard ends search for 9 missing in floatplane crash
The U.S. Coast Guard suspended the search Monday afternoon for nine people, including a child, who were missing after a floatplane crashed in the waters of Puget Sound northwest of Seattle.
Seattle1
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ACTIVITY LOG on Sunday, Sept 4. Had only been in the air 18 minutes prior to crash.
flightaware.com
N725TH Flight Tracking and History - FlightAware
Track N725TH flight from Friday Harbor, WA to Oak Harbor, WA
flightaware.com
MsMarple
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Long article with much information:
www.seattletimes.com
From the article, keeping within the 10% copyright rule:
Hours later, the family of three of those presumed dead identified them as renowned Washington vintner Ross Andrew Mickel, the founder of the Eastside-based Ross Andrew Winery; his wife, Lauren Hilty; and their 22-month-old son, Remy.
Also aboard the plane, according to The Spokesman-Review, was Spokane civil rights activist Sandy Williams, 60, who founded a community center and Black newspaper in that city.
...
“We are deeply saddened and beyond devastated at the loss of our beloved Ross Mickel, Lauren Hilty, Remy and their unborn baby boy, Luca,” read a statement issued Monday night by the Mickel and Hilty families. “Our collective grief is unimaginable.” The statement went on to express gratitude to the searchers and other friends and supporters.
...
Officials believe the wreckage is on the seafloor, which is between 150 and 200 feet deep in that area.
...
Little information on the cause or circumstances of the crash was available. The pilot did not report trouble or issue a mayday, and the plane just disappeared from flight-control radar screens.
...
“We anticipate that there will be continued debris and other things washing up,” said Giard, who urged coastal dwellers, residents and tourists to report any debris that comes ashore.
...
One resident of Bush Point gave the Coast Guard a saucer-sized piece of foam that reeked of fuel. Later, a piece of metal debris was found near the decrepit wharf of the former resort.
...
In the water, rescuers found a seat from the plane, stray life jackets, sheets of aluminum, a page from some sort of log including the plane’s tail number.
...
The plane was flying at around 600 feet, at a speed of roughly 140 miles per hour, which means its plunge into Puget Sound occurred in just seconds.
...
Giard, the Coast Guard search and rescue spokesperson, said the Otter on Sunday was being tracked by its owner, who had tried to contact the pilot by radio as the plane veered slightly toward Port Townsend and then stopped tracking. No contact was made.
Passengers on another seaplane in the air at roughly the same time and in the same general area as the missing Otter reported a turbulent flight.
=== More at the link.
A woman on the other seaplane reported that the passenger pickup point (Cortes Island) of her flight had to be changed due to choppy waters and during her flight the plane dipped and lurched. She posted on her social media about it but took the post down when she heard of the Otter crash.
The article listed some information on other crashes involving the de Havilland DHC-3 Otter floatplane. In general the Otter is considered a well-built plane and as @Seattle1 said a common bush plane in Alaska, here in Washington and in South America. Age and saltwater are two factors that can affect performance but pilot error hasn't been ruled out. I'm not sure if the cause will ever be determined. MOO.
All 10 aboard floatplane presumed dead after crash near Whidbey Island
The pilot did not report trouble or issue a mayday, and the plane disappeared from flight-control radar screens. Only one body has been found.
www.seattletimes.com
From the article, keeping within the 10% copyright rule:
Hours later, the family of three of those presumed dead identified them as renowned Washington vintner Ross Andrew Mickel, the founder of the Eastside-based Ross Andrew Winery; his wife, Lauren Hilty; and their 22-month-old son, Remy.
Also aboard the plane, according to The Spokesman-Review, was Spokane civil rights activist Sandy Williams, 60, who founded a community center and Black newspaper in that city.
...
“We are deeply saddened and beyond devastated at the loss of our beloved Ross Mickel, Lauren Hilty, Remy and their unborn baby boy, Luca,” read a statement issued Monday night by the Mickel and Hilty families. “Our collective grief is unimaginable.” The statement went on to express gratitude to the searchers and other friends and supporters.
...
Officials believe the wreckage is on the seafloor, which is between 150 and 200 feet deep in that area.
...
Little information on the cause or circumstances of the crash was available. The pilot did not report trouble or issue a mayday, and the plane just disappeared from flight-control radar screens.
...
“We anticipate that there will be continued debris and other things washing up,” said Giard, who urged coastal dwellers, residents and tourists to report any debris that comes ashore.
...
One resident of Bush Point gave the Coast Guard a saucer-sized piece of foam that reeked of fuel. Later, a piece of metal debris was found near the decrepit wharf of the former resort.
...
In the water, rescuers found a seat from the plane, stray life jackets, sheets of aluminum, a page from some sort of log including the plane’s tail number.
...
The plane was flying at around 600 feet, at a speed of roughly 140 miles per hour, which means its plunge into Puget Sound occurred in just seconds.
...
Giard, the Coast Guard search and rescue spokesperson, said the Otter on Sunday was being tracked by its owner, who had tried to contact the pilot by radio as the plane veered slightly toward Port Townsend and then stopped tracking. No contact was made.
Passengers on another seaplane in the air at roughly the same time and in the same general area as the missing Otter reported a turbulent flight.
=== More at the link.
A woman on the other seaplane reported that the passenger pickup point (Cortes Island) of her flight had to be changed due to choppy waters and during her flight the plane dipped and lurched. She posted on her social media about it but took the post down when she heard of the Otter crash.
The article listed some information on other crashes involving the de Havilland DHC-3 Otter floatplane. In general the Otter is considered a well-built plane and as @Seattle1 said a common bush plane in Alaska, here in Washington and in South America. Age and saltwater are two factors that can affect performance but pilot error hasn't been ruled out. I'm not sure if the cause will ever be determined. MOO.
Seattle1
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Ross Andrew Mickel, Winemaker
A Seattle-area native, Ross’ path to wine production began on a 1996 fly-fishing trip with Canlis Restaurant heir, Mark Canlis. It was during this afternoon on the river where Mark asked Ross if he had any interest in learning about wine from the restaurant perspective – and he jumped at the opportunity to learn from the best in the Northwest. There are few (if any) restaurants that can match the history, class, service and knowledge about fine dining and wine like the team at Canlis. So, while working under Canlis Master Sommelier Rob Bigelow, Ross soon realized that wine was going to be his life’s journey. And it was from here that he launched into traveling the globe (Australia, South America, Europe and South Africa) to learn all he could about food and wine. Upon returning home and realizing it was time to get something going, he landed a harvest job as cellar rat at Washington State icon winery DeLille Cellars which was immediately followed by a vintage at one of Australia’s leading wineries, Rosemount Estate. Returning to the US, Ross was hired at arguably one of Washington’s most highly allocated and respected producers, Betz Family Winery where he spent nearly a decade helping craft some of Washington State’s most sought after wines under Master of Wine (one of 225 on this globe we call Earth), Bob Betz.
It was under the guidance and support of Bob and Cathy Betz that Ross and his family started Ross Andrew Winery in 1999. Three barrels became fifteen, then thirty and now nearly 125 barrels of red wine rest peacefully in our cellar each vintage. Along the way the winery has developed relationships with the state’s most reputable and attentive growers from which our wines are crafted. Ross has also been hired to exact the skills he honed at Betz Family and Ross Andrew Winery as winemaker for Grand Reve/Force Majeure winery, where he’s earned scores of 97 and 98 points more than once from the wine industry’s leading periodicals. Included is a 97 point accolade from Wine Spectator, for a Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, the highest rating ever given to a Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon.
A Seattle-area native, Ross’ path to wine production began on a 1996 fly-fishing trip with Canlis Restaurant heir, Mark Canlis. It was during this afternoon on the river where Mark asked Ross if he had any interest in learning about wine from the restaurant perspective – and he jumped at the opportunity to learn from the best in the Northwest. There are few (if any) restaurants that can match the history, class, service and knowledge about fine dining and wine like the team at Canlis. So, while working under Canlis Master Sommelier Rob Bigelow, Ross soon realized that wine was going to be his life’s journey. And it was from here that he launched into traveling the globe (Australia, South America, Europe and South Africa) to learn all he could about food and wine. Upon returning home and realizing it was time to get something going, he landed a harvest job as cellar rat at Washington State icon winery DeLille Cellars which was immediately followed by a vintage at one of Australia’s leading wineries, Rosemount Estate. Returning to the US, Ross was hired at arguably one of Washington’s most highly allocated and respected producers, Betz Family Winery where he spent nearly a decade helping craft some of Washington State’s most sought after wines under Master of Wine (one of 225 on this globe we call Earth), Bob Betz.
It was under the guidance and support of Bob and Cathy Betz that Ross and his family started Ross Andrew Winery in 1999. Three barrels became fifteen, then thirty and now nearly 125 barrels of red wine rest peacefully in our cellar each vintage. Along the way the winery has developed relationships with the state’s most reputable and attentive growers from which our wines are crafted. Ross has also been hired to exact the skills he honed at Betz Family and Ross Andrew Winery as winemaker for Grand Reve/Force Majeure winery, where he’s earned scores of 97 and 98 points more than once from the wine industry’s leading periodicals. Included is a 97 point accolade from Wine Spectator, for a Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, the highest rating ever given to a Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Team Behind Ross Andrew Winery
Meet Ross Andrew Mickel, Winemaker, Alexandra Mickel, Sheila Nelson, Ned Nelson and Galena, the winery pup
www.rossandrewwinery.com
Strawberryjellyfishb
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As someone who has been on the family side of this my heart hurts for the families. I was looking into this today and am wondering if there was structural failure? And the one eye witnessed mentioned that there was an explosion after the airplane entered the water....? (As an aside I found out my family member has been in Namus for 20+ years-entered by the police after the water search was called off-what a shock! He is technically missing but d/t circumstances he's definitely deceased)
sasha17
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(RSBM)
Heartbreaking to hear that one of the passengers was also pregnant. Such a tragic crash.
Seattle1
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All 10 victims identified in deadly floatplane crash into Puget Sound; NTSB heading wreckage search
The U.S. Coast Guard has released the names of all 10 people who were on a floatplane that crashed off Whidbey Island on Sunday.
9/5/2022
Nine adults and one child were on board the plane when it went down at 3:11 p.m. One person was found dead at the scene. The other nine victims are missing and presumed dead.
Jason Winters - Pilot
According to the Instagram account for Northwest Seaplanes, Winters had been flying since 1995 and with Northwest Seaplanes since 2013.
Seattle1
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^^rsbm
I've not read or heard that there was an explosion entering the water as that would truly require an eyewitness.
I believe what OP may have heard was the local that said he heard what sounded like a blast of dynamite-- but not to be confused with an "explosion."
The flight data posted up thread (with the altitude and speed recorded as the flight dropped off radar) represents circumstances where the craft nosedive would indeed sound like a dynamite blast.
Something happened where this plane did NOT glide in for an emergency landing. The plane parts are likely resting at the bottom of the sound. MOO
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Seattle1
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‘You don’t think it’s going to be you:’ Witness to plane crash remembers friend who was on board-- 9/6/22
Mark Canlis helped search after the crash and later found out that one of the victims was his longtime friend and local winemaker Ross Andrew Mickel.
Seattle1
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9/6/22
Sep 6, 2022 The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) released the names Tuesday morning of the 10 people who were aboard the floatplane that crashed into Puget Sound near Whidbey Island. The plane was flying from Friday Harbor, a popular tourist destination in the San Juan Islands, to Renton Municipal Airport when it crashed on Sept. 4. The plane crashed in Mutiny Bay off Whidbey Island, roughly 30 miles northwest of downtown Seattle and about halfway between Friday Harbor and Renton.
Sep 6, 2022 The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) released the names Tuesday morning of the 10 people who were aboard the floatplane that crashed into Puget Sound near Whidbey Island. The plane was flying from Friday Harbor, a popular tourist destination in the San Juan Islands, to Renton Municipal Airport when it crashed on Sept. 4. The plane crashed in Mutiny Bay off Whidbey Island, roughly 30 miles northwest of downtown Seattle and about halfway between Friday Harbor and Renton.
DeDee
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From MsMarple's link above:
Remy [Martin] is a famous champagne and Luca is a popular wine. I have a friend who named her 5 children after special places and times when they were conceived. Remy is one. Cayman another.
This accident is so tragic for all involved. I would not feel safe in a float plane flight during choppy waters or turbulent air. The pilot was flying low, too, at 500'.
The flight was destined for Renton WA. It's a fabulous place to live or visit for R&R with stunning views of Mt Rainier. Maybe one of the occupants owned property here.
Renton, WA 2022: Best Places to Visit - Tripadvisor
Remy [Martin] is a famous champagne and Luca is a popular wine. I have a friend who named her 5 children after special places and times when they were conceived. Remy is one. Cayman another.
This accident is so tragic for all involved. I would not feel safe in a float plane flight during choppy waters or turbulent air. The pilot was flying low, too, at 500'.
The flight was destined for Renton WA. It's a fabulous place to live or visit for R&R with stunning views of Mt Rainier. Maybe one of the occupants owned property here.
Renton, WA 2022: Best Places to Visit - Tripadvisor