Apollo 8 Astronaut Dies in Plane Crash After Flyby Near Friend's House

On June 7, a tragic accident occurred when the former Apollo 8 astronaut, William Anders, tragically passed away while piloting his plane over the waters off Washington state. The accident happened during a flyby near a friend's house on Orcas Island.

Unusual Flyby

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), William Anders had informed a friend about his plan to do a flyby near her house on the western shore of Orcas Island. The friend mentioned that his flybys were not unusual and that he typically did two flybys, occasionally rocking the airplane wings. However, he never performed any kind of aerobatic maneuvers.

The Tragic Event

Around 11:37 a.m. on June 7, the friend heard the sound of his airplane and saw the older-model Beech A45 overhead traveling north along the shore in front of her house. Shortly after, the plane was observed flying over the water, and subsequently, witness accounts revealed that the plane began to plunge towards the water in a near vertical dive before striking the water with its wingtip.

Recovery and Further Examination

The plane sank near the north end of Jones Island, off the western shore of Orcas Island, San Juan County. The body of the 90-year-old Anders was recovered that afternoon. Most of the wreckage was also recovered in the following week and it has been stored for further examination, as reported by the NTSB.

Memory of William Anders

William Anders is best known for capturing the iconic “Earthrise” photograph in 1968, which depicted the Earth as a shadowed blue marble from space. This historic photo is credited with sparking the global environmental movement, offering a unique perspective on the delicate and isolated nature of Earth from space. Retired Major General Anders considered this photo as his most significant contribution to the space program, along with ensuring the functionality of the Apollo 8 command module and service module.

Following the tragic accident, William Anders' son, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Greg Anders, expressed the family's devastation, stating, "He was a great pilot, and we will miss him terribly."