A tragic aviation accident claimed the lives of two men on Wednesday afternoon after a floatplane struck high-voltage power lines while attempting to fly low over the Columbia River near Clover Island in Kennewick, Washington.
The accident occurred around 2:30 p.m. when the small seaplane collided with a power line crossing the river. Witnesses said the aircraft appeared to descend as if preparing for a water landing before clipping the lowest transmission line with one of its wings. The impact snapped the live wire, sending both the aircraft and the energized cable crashing into the river.
The floatplane flipped upside down but remained afloat thanks to its pontoons, drifting downstream toward the Pasco shoreline before emergency crews secured it. About two hours later, a Lampson crane lifted the mostly intact aircraft from the water.
Authorities confirmed that both occupants onboard died in the crash. Franklin County Coroner Curtis McGary said the victims’ bodies were recovered from the wreckage.
One eyewitness, 19-year-old missionary Andrew Waterhouse, was crossing the Cable Bridge when he noticed the floatplane flying unusually low.
“I thought, ‘Oh man, what a cool plane. He’s going in for a landing on the Columbia. Must be a fun day,’” Waterhouse recalled.
Moments later, he watched the aircraft dip slightly before striking the power line.
“I saw him hit the line and the line snapped, and the plane just went straight into the water,” he said.
Waterhouse and other witnesses said several bystanders immediately sprang into action. A person onshore jumped into the river while others aboard boats and jet skis rushed to the overturned aircraft in a desperate attempt to open its doors. Despite their efforts, they were unable to reach the occupants in time.
Investigators believe the pilot may have attempted to pass beneath the transmission lines but misjudged the clearance, causing one wing to strike the lowest cable.
The aircraft’s flight origin remains unknown, with officials saying it did not appear to have departed from either Richland or Pasco airports. Registration records indicate the floatplane had multiple owners and was registered to an address in Sonoma, California.
The collision caused widespread disruptions across the Tri-Cities area. More than 11,000 Benton PUD customers and approximately 1,800 Franklin PUD customers lost electricity after the transmission line fell into the river. Utility crews worked for hours to restore service and repair the damaged infrastructure.
The downed power line also ignited a brush fire on the Pasco side of the Columbia River, burning roughly one acre before firefighters contained it.
A massive emergency response involving sheriff’s deputies, firefighters, rescue boats, and dive teams converged on the scene. Authorities temporarily restricted boat traffic near Clover Island while recovery operations continued.
The cause of the crash is expected to be investigated by federal aviation authorities.
