The pilot of a seaplane that crashed Saturday, Aug. 24 into Lake Meridian in Kent remained in critical condition Monday afternoon, Aug. 26.
The man remained in the intensive care unit at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Firefighters responded at about 10:09 a.m. to reports of a plane upside down in the lake, according to a Aug. 26 email from Puget Sound Fire spokesperson Pat Pawlak. Lake Meridian Park is at 14800 SE 272nd St.
Two firefighters, a Kent Police officer and two community members entered the water to rescue the pilot, who was alone on the plane, Pawlak said. Firefighters were able to remove the pilot within 20 minutes from the time of dispatch.
Firefighters and paramedics performed lifesaving treatment on the man, including CPR at the scene, prior to medics taking him to Harborview.
“This was a very dynamic and fluid scene,” Pawlak said. “The rescue effort was a team effort between Puget Sound Fire, Kent Police Department and the community members. The community members played an integral role in this rescue effort by shuttling firefighters from the shore to the overturned airplane (which was about 300 feet from shore). We certainly appreciate their willingness to assist us with this rescue. Their actions truly helped make a difference at this incident.”
Puget Sound Fire doesn’t have a dive team, but several firefighters are specialty trained swimmers, Pawlak said.
“The firefighters complete a 24-hour certification course that trains them on several aspects of water rescues, including being able to dive to a depth of 40 feet, grid searches in a lake, and how to assist with getting people out of submerged vehicles,” he said.
NTSB investigating
The plane left Norman Grier Field in Kent at about 10:05 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, and crashed just a few minutes later, according to flightaware.com. Norman Grier Field is at 29300 179th Pl. SE, and was formerly known as Crest Airpark. The address is listed as Kent but the field is in unincorporated King County.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash of a Cessna A185F on Aug. 24 near Kent, according to a Aug. 26 email from a NTSB spokesperson.
“The preliminary information we have is the plane crashed while landing on Lake Meridian,” the spokesperson said.
An NTSB investigator arrived on scene on Saturday, Aug. 24 to begin the process of documenting the scene and examining the aircraft. The wreckage was recovered from the lake on Sunday and sent to a secure facility for further evaluation.
According to the spokesperson, NTSB investigations involve three primary areas: the pilot, the aircraft and the operating environment. As part of this process, investigators will gather the following information and records:
• Flight track data
• Recordings of any air traffic control communications
• Aircraft maintenance records
• Weather forecasts and actual weather and lighting conditions around the time of the accident
• Pilot’s license, ratings and recency of flight experience
• 72-hour background of the pilot to determine if there were any issues that could have affected the pilot’s ability to safety operate the flight
• Witness statements
• Electronic devices that could contain information relevant to the investigation
• Any available surveillance video, including from doorbell cameras
Witnesses to the accident or those who have surveillance video or other information that could be relevant to the investigation are asked to contact the NTSB by email at witness@ntsb.gov.
During the on-scene phase of the investigative process, the NTSB does not determine or speculate about the cause of the accident, according to the spokesperson.
A preliminary report will be available within 30 days. The preliminary report will contain factual information gathered during the initial phase of the investigation. A probable cause of the crash along with any contributing factors will be detailed in the final report, which is expected in 12 to 24 months.
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A seaplane sits upside down after crashing Saturday, Aug. 24 in Lake Meridian. COURTESY PHOTO, Puget Sound Fire
A seaplane is removed Saturday, Aug. 24 from Lake Meridian after crashing into the water. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. COURTESY PHOTO, Puget Sound Fire
Crews remove a seaplane from Lake Meridian. COURTESY PHOTO, Puget Sound Fire
