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PLANE CRASH NEAR SAN JUAN ISLAND

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Boaters rescue pilot and son

Story and photos by Sharon Kivisto

posted 09/28/03
A single-engine experimental plane carrying Mark Tathan and his son Matt of Woodinville crashed into the water two miles south of Mineral Point off of San Juan Island Sunday, Sept. 28, 2003. Brent and Mary Katherine Nicholson of Bellingham, heading from Roche Harbor to Friday Harbor, saw the crash and pulled the two from the water.

Matt Tathan said, "We hit the water and rolled over and then it came back up. The water was pretty cold." He said his father thought an airlock might have caused the plane to lose power.

Pilot Mark Tathan is helped by his rescuer Brent Nicholson (in the pink shirt) and a San Juan Island resident as he tried to move his plane above the high tide line.

Pilot Mark Tathan (center) borrowed a winch from Bob Fritz to pull his plane farther up the beach. Rescuer Brent Nicholson is at the right.

The single engine plane, built from a kit, lost part of its propeller in the crash.

After being pulled from the water, Mark Tathan attached a tow rope to the plane and the Nicholsons towed it two miles to a beach off of Avenida de Oro.

The plane was secured on the beach. An official from National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will examine the plane Monday, Sept. 29, 2003.

Matt Tathan examines the tail of his dad's plane.

San Juan Island resident Nancy Jones provided a phone for Mary Katherine Nicholson after they towed the plane to the beach near Jones' home.

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