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- Ex-astronaut who died in Washington plane crash was doing a flyby near a friend’s home, NTSB says (newsbreak.com)
William Anders, the Apollo 8 astronaut famous for capturing the “Earthrise” photograph in 1968, tragically died last month while flying his plane near the waters off Washington state. According to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Anders was performing a flyby near a friend’s house on Orcas Island when the accident happened.
The NTSB noted that Anders had informed a friend of his plans to fly by her residence on the island’s western coast. This friend remarked that such flybys were typical for Anders, who generally executed two per visit, occasionally tilting the aircraft’s wings but never engaging in acrobatic stunts.
On the day of the incident, June 7, the friend recognized the sound of Anders’ plane around 11:37 a.m. She observed the older Beech A45 airplane flying northward along the coastline.
After momentarily losing sight of the aircraft behind trees, she witnessed it flying southward over the sea. According to her, the aircraft’s left wing began to dip — a maneuver she initially thought was routine until the plane abruptly descended into the water.
Another witness, positioned to the north, captured the harrowing moments on video, showing the aircraft plunging in a steep dive and its right wingtip hitting the water.
The aircraft wreckage sank near Jones Island’s north end, as per San Juan County Sheriff Eric Peter. Anders, aged 90, was later recovered from the site that afternoon.
In the following week, most of the debris from the crash was retrieved and is currently stored for further analysis.
Anders is revered not only for his spaceflight accomplishments but also for his iconic “Earthrise” photo, the first color image of Earth from space, which has been hailed for altering humanity’s view of our planet and for inspiring the global environmental movement.
A retired major general, Anders often spoke of the “Earthrise” photograph as a pivotal contribution to space exploration. His son, retired Air Force Lt.
Col. Greg Anders, expressed deep sorrow over the loss, describing his father as an exceptional pilot.
The family, he said, is profoundly grieving the loss.