Beloved Author Still In Critical Condition

Author Richard Bach, 76, continues to recover from his injuries following his approach to landing accident on Friday, August  31, while piloting his amateur built-experimental SeaRey Amphib purchased earlier this year. Healing has been slow since his small plane went down in the San Juan Islands in Washington State, but he’s reportedly been able to speak a few words and respond to simple commands as he remains hospitalized in intensive care.

"He’s in sort of a daze" says his son, James Bach, as he describes his father’s condition after the accident in which his small plane flipped over after hitting power lines. Last week, the NTSB filed a preliminary report that states:

 (A)bout 1630 Pacific daylight time, an Easton SeaRey amphibian amateur-built airplane, N346PE, sustained substantial damage during impact with wires and terrain while landing near Friday Harbor, Washington. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight, which had originated from Eastsound, Washington, approximately 45 minutes before the accident. A flight plan had not been filed.

A witness stated the he observed the airplane on short final to a private grass airstrip when it struck power line wires. The aircraft nosed over and impacted terrain.

"Actually I'm learning that consciousness is not an all or nothing thing," James said of his father's improving condition. "Although he can say a few words and respond to simple commands, he does not seem to know why he's in the hospital. It's possible that, at any moment, he may snap into lucidity." Bach continues to recover from head and shoulder injuries at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, according to a report in the Seattle Times.

Bach is best known for his inspirational best-seller "Jonathan Livingston Seagull," penned in 1970, but he also spent some time as a contributing editor for Flying magazine, in addition to belonging to the 141st Fighter Squadron (USAF) as a F-84F pilot.

(Photo from file)

FMI: http://richardbach.com/