A National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report states the pilot of a Kenmore Air seaplane reported bad weather near Roche Harbor before crashing into Shallow Bay near Sucia Island on July 23, 2026. The de Havilland DHC-3 Otter flight, which had 10 passengers and a pilot aboard, was en route from Lake Union in Seattle to Roche Harbor when the pilot turned toward Sucia Island to wait for weather to improve. The plane lost altitude, dropped its left wing, and struck the water, injuring all 11 people on board. Good Samaritans on nearby boats assisted with the rescue.
Kenmore Air crash linked to weather
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📄 Source: Cascadia Daily News — https://www.cascadiadaily.com/
Source receipts8 of 10 claims supported · 80%
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- ✓A National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report states the pilot of a Kenmore Air seaplane reported bad weather near Roche Harbor“The pilot of a Kenmore Air seaplane reported bad weather near Roche Harbor prior to crashing into the water near Sucia Island on July 23, according to a preliminary report released Wednesday by the National Transportation Safety Board.”
- ✓The pilot of a Kenmore Air seaplane crashed into Shallow Bay near Sucia Island on July 23, 2026“The plane, a de Havilland DHC-3 Otter, went down at Shallow Bay near Sucia Island around 5:15 p.m.”
- ✓The de Havilland DHC-3 Otter flight had 10 passengers and a pilot aboard“The crash, which injured all 10 people aboard the flight and the pilot, happened less than an hour after the flight left Lake Union in Seattle on its way to Roche Harbor on San Juan Island, according to previous Cascadia Daily News reporting.”
- ✓The de Havilland DHC-3 Otter flight was en route from Lake Union in Seattle to Roche Harbor“The crash, which injured all 10 people aboard the flight and the pilot, happened less than an hour after the flight left Lake Union in Seattle on its way to Roche Harbor on San Juan Island, according to previous Cascadia Daily News reporting.”
- ✓The pilot of the de Havilland DHC-3 Otter flight turned toward Sucia Island to wait for weather to improve“After radioing about the bad weather, the pilot informed Kenmore Air’s operation center he would land at Sucia Island and wait for the weather to improve, according to the preliminary report.”
- ✓The plane lost altitude“It was then that the airplane lost altitude, the left wing dropped and the left wingtip and left pontoon float hit the water, according to the preliminary report.”
- ⚠The plane dropped its left wingNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
- ✓The plane struck the water“the left wingtip and left pontoon float hit the water, according to the preliminary report.”
- ⚠The plane injured all 11 people on boardNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
- ✓Good Samaritans on nearby boats assisted with the rescue“Good samaritans on boats quickly rushed to the rescue, aiding the passengers and pilot.”
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