Maule M-7 Went Down Shortly After Takeoff In The Deschutes River

A Maule M-7 floatplane went down Saturday in the Deschutes River in Deschutes County, OR, resulting in the fatal injury of the pilot of the aircraft.

In a news release posted to Facebook, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office said that the plane had just taken off from Sunriver Airport. The aircraft, an amphibious float plane, flipped upside down upon contact with the water and submerged.

At approximately 10:40 am, Deschutes County 911 received a call of a plane crash in the Deschutes River near Sunriver. Deschutes County Sheriff's Office (Patrol, Search and Rescue, and Marine Patrol), Sunriver Police Department, Oregon State Police and Sunriver Fire and Rescue responded.

Sunriver Fire and Rescue arrived and was able to rescue 5 subjects from the aircraft as it floated upside down. One of the subjects rescued was a male occupant of the aircraft who was able to escape the aircraft. The other people had swum to the plane to assist the occupants. It was determined a male subject was still underwater and initial rescue efforts were unsuccessful. The remaining occupant in the airplane was believed to be deceased.

The fatally-injured pilot was later identified by the Sheriff's office as 63-year-old Kevin Padrick of Sunriver, OR. The passenger was 69-year old Johannes Noordwijk, also of Sunriver, according to television station KTVZ.

Noordwijk was transported to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend with injuries that are believed to be non-life threatening.

Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue with swift water rescue technicians and rescue divers arrived. While being supported by Marine Patrol Deputies, divers were able to locate Padrick deceased underwater.

FAA records indicate the plane was registered to K2 Enterprises LLC of Sunriver, and lists the owners as Kevin and Karen Padrick.

(Image provided by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office via Facebook)

FMI: www.facebook.com/pg/DeschutesCountySheriff/posts/?ref=page_internal
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