Experienced An Engine Failure Shortly After Takeoff

The pilot of an ultralight airplane was rescued by a pair of kayakers after he was forced to ditch his airplane in Lake Morton east of Seattle on Monday.

Brett Easter told television station KOMO that he planned to take one trip around the pattern before heading to work. He fueled up the airplane and took off from Norman Grier Field (S36) where he keeps the airplane. But after making his first turn, he noticed that the propeller was stopped.

The 19-year-old pilot said he knew he would not make it back to the airport, and began looking for a place to land. He determined his best option was Lake Morton, because "nobody else deserves to be hurt because your engine failed."

He executed a successful water landing, but became entangled in his jacket as he tried to get out of the airplane. Easter said he spent about 10 minutes in the 47-degree water trying to keep his head above the surface before a pair of kayakers who had seen the plane go down paddled up to give him a hand. They and a person in a canoe helped Easter to shore.

The young pilot spent the night in Harborview Medical Center. According to KOMO, he had to have his stomach pumped and there was some residual water in his lungs. Doctors said he was very lucky to have not suffered any brain damage from his time in the cold water.

Still, Easter told KOMO that his is not done flying. "One engine failure is not going to do it for me," he said.

(Image from Facebook)

FMI: Source report