The former astronaut from the Apollo 8 mission, renowned for capturing the iconic “Earthrise” photograph, tragically passed away last month during a plane flight over Washington state, striking waters. William Anders, known for his historic 1968 image displaying Earth as a shadowed blue sphere from space, had informed a friend about a planned flyby near her residence on Orcas Island’s western shore, according to federal authorities. The National Transportation Safety Board revealed that Anders typically conducted two flybys without performing aerobatic maneuvers, and his friend mentioned his approach was not out of the ordinary.
At approximately 11:37 a.m. on June 7, the friend recognized the sound of Anders’ aircraft, an older Beech A45, flying north along the shoreline in front of her house. She observed the plane disappearing briefly behind trees and, upon reappearing, witnessed it banking south over the water. While passing overhead, the left wing began dropping, initially seeming routine until the plane abruptly plummeted towards the water with the wing still dipping.
Another individual on the shoreline north of the friend’s house captured a video of the vintage plane’s swift descent towards the water in a nearly vertical dive, with the right wingtip striking the surface, reported the NTSB. These two witnesses were the sole individuals who came forward with information, mentioned the NTSB.
San Juan County Sheriff Eric Peter disclosed that the plane sank close to the north end of Jones Island post-crash, off the western coast of Orcas Island. The 90-year-old Anders’ body was recovered later that day. The majority of the wreckage has been salvaged and retained for further investigation, as stated by the NTSB.
William Anders’ groundbreaking “Earthrise” picture, the first colored Earth image from space, is hailed as a pivotal moment in history for altering human perspectives on the planet. Notably, the photo is credited with igniting the global environmental movement by showcasing Earth’s fragility and seclusion from space. Anders, a retired major general, regarded the photo as his most noteworthy contribution to the space program, alongside ensuring the Apollo 8 modules’ functionality.
His son, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Greg Anders, expressed profound sorrow to The Associated Press, emphasizing his father’s legacy as a skilled pilot and their immense loss.
