Pilot remains in critical condition after crash into Lake Meridian | Photos

Five people helped rescue man; NTSB investigating Cessna seaplane crash while landing

By Steve Hunter • August 29, 2024 11:39 am

A seaplane crashed Saturday, Aug. 24, into Lake Meridian in Kent.

The pilot was the only person on board. He remained in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, according to a Aug. 28 email from 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.

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 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.

A boat near the upside down seaplane that crashed Saturday morning, Aug. 24 into Lake Meridian in Kent. COURTESY PHOTO, Puget Sound Fire

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.