Submitted by San Juan County Sheriff’s Office.

At approximately 5 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 2, a pilot reported seeing an aircraft go down somewhere on the south end of Lopez Island near the airport. San Juan County Sheriff’s deputies, along with Lopez Island Fire and Rescue, mobilized to search for the plane and incorporated the help of the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, Civil Air Patrol and Island Air. At approximately 6:40 p.m. the plane was located. The two pilots on board died in the crash. They were both San Juan Island residents.

One of the deceased has been identified as David King, a long-time resident of San Juan Island. San Juan County Prosecutor Randy Gaylord, who also acts as the county coroner, told the family the crash appeared to be accidental.

At this time the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating into the cause of the crash.