A single-engine airplane crashed into Yale Lake in northeast Clark County on Wednesday morning, and a group of passing boaters pulled the 76-year-old pilot from the water just before the aircraft sank. The man suffered minor injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Officials say he was the only person aboard.
Around 11:30 a.m., deputies with the Clark County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of a small plane in the reservoir, along with water-rescue teams and emergency medical crews, according to FOX 12. The station reports that nearby boaters helped get the pilot to shore, where crews transported him to a local hospital for evaluation. No other injuries were reported.
Quick-thinking Boaters Beat the Clock
Yale Lake is a 3,780-acre reservoir on the Lewis River northeast of Vancouver, with several public boat launches and campgrounds that keep it busy with recreational boat traffic, according to Clark County documents. That steady stream of local boaters likely put rescuers close enough to reach the downed aircraft before it slipped beneath the surface. The lake's shoreline and access routes also mean emergency crews often coordinate with volunteer boaters during water rescues.
FAA Called In as Investigators Dig In
The pilot told deputies the aircraft experienced a mechanical failure before crashing into the water, and the Federal Aviation Administration has been notified as part of the inquiry, deputies told FOX 12. Deputies said the aircraft sank after the pilot exited, and officials have not released additional details about the make of the plane or the cause of the reported failure. Authorities said they will provide updates as agencies continue their probing of the wreck.
Authorities praised the boaters whose quick action helped get the pilot out of the water and credited them with a likely lifesaving response. For now, investigators from local agencies and federal aviation officials are expected to review aircraft records and other evidence in an effort to determine what went wrong.
