Officials received reports that “the aircraft suddenly descended at a good speed and struck the water.” The cause of the accident is unknown and there was no distress call or distress beacon.
WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. – A Spokane, Wash., civil rights activist, business owner and winery founder and his family were on the seaplane that crashed into the waters of Puget Sound, killing 10 people .
The US Coast Guard released the names of the victims early Tuesday. The body of one of the dead was recovered by a good Samaritan after the accident on Sunday afternoon. The other nine remain missing despite an extensive search.
The Northwest Seaplanes flight was en route from Friday Harbor, a popular tourist destination in the San Juan Islands, to a Seattle suburb when it went down without sending a distress call.
Among the dead are pilot Jason Winters, activist Sandy Williams, winemaker Ross Andrew Mickel, his pregnant wife Lauren Hilty and their son Remy Mickel. Also killed were passengers Joanne Mera, Patricia Hicks, Luke Ludwig, Rebecca Ludwig and Gabrielle Hanna. The Coast Guard did not provide hometowns.
Mickel was the founder of Woodinville-based Ross Andrew Winery.
“We are deeply saddened and devastated by the loss of our beloved Ross Mickel, Lauren Hilty, Remy and their unborn baby, Luca,” the Mickel and Hilty families said in a statement. “Our collective pain is unimaginable. They were a bright, shining light in the lives of all who knew them.”
The Washington State Wine Commission said in an email that Ross had “an incredible impact on the Washington wine community” and will be greatly missed.
Williams was a lecturer, filmmaker, founder of the Carl Maxey Center and editor of The Black Lens, a newspaper focused on African Americans.
“Sandy was a voice for the voiceless, a tireless advocate for marginalized people in Spokane, a journalist unafraid to speak truth to power, a builder of hope in her vision for the Carl Maxey Center, and a friend beloved by countless members of our community,” the Spokane County Human Rights Task Force said on Facebook.
Thayne McCulloh, president of Gonzaga University, said the community lost a leader, teacher, activist and powerful voice.
“Devastated to learn of Sandy Williams’ death and we at GonzagaU extend our condolences to his family, many friends and colleagues,” he tweeted. “Sandy – rest in peace.”
Joanne Mera was a San Diego business owner, The Seattle Times reported. Her niece, Sami Sullivan, said she was visiting family in Seattle when the crash happened. She leaves behind three children and a husband of more than 30 years, Sullivan said.
“Joanne Mera was someone that everyone gravitated toward,” Sullivan said in a statement. “She was the life of any party and the soul of our family. She was the best mother, wife, sister and friend.”
The Coast Guard ended its search for survivors Monday afternoon after “saturating an area” of more than 2,100 square nautical miles (nearly 2,800 square miles or 7,250 square kilometers).
“All family members have been notified of this decision,” the Coast Guard said on Twitter. “Our hearts go out to the families, loved ones and friends of the missing and deceased.”
The plane went down in Mutiny Bay on Whidbey Island, about 50 kilometers northwest of downtown Seattle and halfway between Friday Harbor and its destination in Renton, south of Seattle.
Whidbey Island resident Jeff Brewny and his wife were walking their dog Sunday when they heard a loud boom.
“The first thought was thunder. It was so loud,” he said. “There was no flash like you get with lightning. So, you know, I thought it was a ship exploding. It was so devastating. My dog went crazy.”
The owner of the seaplane company was aboard one of the two flights that took off Sunday, Scott Giard, director of U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue for the Pacific Northwest, said in a new conference
The owner told authorities he saw the other plane veering slightly off course and tried to make radio contact but was unable to.
“Shortly thereafter, he noticed on his flight tracker that the flight had stopped tracking and notified authorities,” Giard said.
Officials received reports that “the plane suddenly descended at a good rate of speed and hit the water,” Giard said. “We do not have any video or images of the incident at this time.”
There were no distress calls or distress beacons from the crashing plane, he said. The plane has an electronic locator transmitter on board, but no transmissions have been received.
“This is very typical at times when there is a hard landing or an aircraft crash,” he said.
The cause of the crash is unknown, authorities said.
The National Transportation Safety Board said Monday it will send a seven-person team to investigate the DHC-3 Otter turbine accident.
Coast Guard searchers found “minimal debris,” Giard said. As of Monday afternoon, they had found only three to four long, narrow pieces of aluminum, very few personal items, a seat and some small pieces of foam.
Without a clear picture of the actual crash, and without knowing whether it exploded on impact or whether it immediately sank to the sea floor 45 to 60 meters below, it is difficult to know what happened to the plane, he said.
Northwest Seaplanes is a family business founded by Clyde Carlson, according to the company’s website.
The company’s business office next to the seaplane dock at the Renton Municipal Airport remained closed Monday behind the fence. The only visible activity was two people hugging near the front door.
A woman who answered the phone early Monday said they are waiting to hear more and are devastated by the crash.
“It’s a small crew. Everyone is close,” said the woman, who would only give her first name, Michelle. She declined to say more.
The company posted a message on Facebook Monday afternoon saying they are heartbroken.
“We still do not know any details about the cause of the accident,” the post said. “We are working with the FAA, NTSB and Coast Guard. We have been in communication with the families. We are praying for the families involved, including our pilot and his family.”
– Bellisle reported from Renton, Washington.