Two Friends, One Final Flight: Vintage Floatplane Crashes Into Columbia River After Striking Power Line

What was meant to be a memorable journey to a seaplane gathering in Idaho ended in heartbreak when a 1949 Cessna floatplane crashed into Washington’s Columbia River, claiming the lives of two close friends from Sonoma, California.

The aircraft, piloted by 64-year-old Randy J. Peterson, with 50-year-old Eric Wayne Houston on board, had departed from California’s Napa River on Wednesday en route to Priest Lake, Idaho, where aviation enthusiasts were gathering for a seaplane event.

Witnesses watched in horror as the vintage floatplane flew at low altitude near the Cable Bridge in the Tri-Cities. Moments later, it suddenly descended, appearing to maneuver to avoid high-tension power lines spanning the Columbia River. Tragically, the aircraft struck one of the transmission lines, snapping the lower wire before plunging upside down into the river.

Boaters, jet ski riders, emergency responders, and even a bystander who entered the water rushed to rescue the occupants, but despite their efforts, neither man could be saved. Rescue crews later recovered the wreckage using a heavy crane.

Randy Peterson was well known in the vintage motorsports community as a partner at Peterson Motorsports, where he spent decades restoring historic race cars ranging from 1920s Grand Prix machines to classic stock cars. His passion for preserving mechanical history extended from the racetrack to the skies.

The crash also caused widespread power outages across Kennewick and Pasco after the damaged transmission line failed, briefly leaving more than 13,000 customers without electricity. Utility crews restored power within hours, but replacing the damaged line is expected to take several days.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation to determine exactly what led the floatplane into the power lines. Investigators will examine the aircraft, weather conditions, flight path, and pilot decisions to understand the circumstances behind the tragic accident.

The accident also brought back memories of a similar Columbia River tragedy in 1998, when another Cessna struck power lines near the Vantage Bridge, killing two passengers.