Floatplane wreckage located in Mutiny Bay

Published 5:00 pm Monday, September 12, 2022

By Sarah Grace Taylor / The Seattle Times

SEATTLE — Wreckage of a floatplane that crashed into Mutiny Bay last week has been located on the seafloor, after currents and the depth of the water hid the wreckage for several days, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

A “large section” similar in length and width to the plane was located by sonar about 190 feet below the surface of the Puget Sound just off of Whidbey Island, according to spokesperson Jennifer Gabris.

Investigators worked with the National Oceanic at Atmospheric Administration and the University of Washington’s Applied Physics Laboratory to comb a 1.75-by-0.75-mile area where the plane was believed to crash, according to witness reports.

Given the depth and 3-5 knot currents, the NTSB is seeking a work-class remotely operated vehicle to recover the wreckage.