Former astronaut William Anders, who took iconic Earthrise photo, has died in (state of) Washington plane crash

Channel 3000 News/AP ^ | June 8, 2024 | AP Staff

[Diana in Wisconsin]

SEATTLE (AP) — Retired Maj. Gen. William Anders, the former Apollo 8 astronaut who took the iconic “Earthrise” photo showing the planet as a shadowed blue marble from space in 1968, was killed Friday when the plane he was piloting alone plummeted into the waters off the San Juan Islands in Washington state. He was 90. His son, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Greg Anders, confirmed the death to The Associated Press.

“The family is devastated,” Greg Anders said. “He was a great pilot and we will miss him terribly.”

William Anders has said the photo was his most significant contribution to the space program, given the ecological philosophical impact it had, along with making sure the Apollo 8 command module and service module worked.

The photograph, the first color image of Earth from space, is one of the most important photos in modern history for the way it changed how humans viewed the planet. The photo is credited with sparking the global environmental movement for showing how delicate and isolated Earth appeared from space.

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, who is also a retired NASA astronaut, wrote on the social platform X: “Bill Anders forever changed our perspective of our planet and ourselves with his famous Earthrise photo on Apollo 8. He inspired me and generations of astronauts and explorers. My thoughts are with his family and friends.”

A report came in around 11:40 a.m. that an older-model plane crashed into the water and sank near the north end of Jones Island, San Juan County Sheriff Eric Peter said.

Only the pilot was on board the Beech A45 airplane at the time, according to the Federal Aviation Association.

The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA are investigating the crash.

[Bonemaker]

That’s what I’m thinking. No reason in hell for diving straight down like that. Looks like tried to pull up at last moment but way too late for change of heart.

[zeestephen]

He crashed about 75 miles north of Seattle. About 20 miles east of Victoria, Vancouver Island.

They have their own climate up there.

Wind, fog, rain, and cold water currents travel straight east from the Pacific Ocean.

[Mat_Helm]

He did a Spilt “S” maneuver rolling inverted as if at the top of a loop and pulling the stick back to recover level at the bottom of the maneuver. He had too much speed and insufficient altitude to complete the maneuver. He may not have intended to go directly vertical from level at the top, but at more of an angled descending turn. It did not appear to be spacial disorientation as he had control. Throttle was wide open and he intended to pull up level, but had too much sink and speed to reach level flight just prior to impact. He needed another 100 feet and would have made it.

[zeestephen]

Do you have a link to the crash video?

I do not see one in the posted article.

Thanks.

[jaydubya2]

Beech A45, same as a Beechcraft T-34 Mentor.

[Steve_Seattle]

"If he wasn’t practicing aerobatics, it was suicide."

Or maybe he had a medical emergency. The plane went into a very steep dive and appeared to try to level out just before it hit the water.

[Honorary Serb]

Memory Eternal!

[TangoLimaSierra]

Or maybe he had a medical emergency.

Always a possibility. Especially at 90.
But he was able to keep his medical up to date, I assume.

[SuperLuminal]

Too young to go...
At least, from my 90-year-old point of view...

[hoagy62]

I have an uncle in Maine who’s still flying at 92.

[US_MilitaryRules]

https://rumble.com/v509tdi-apollo-8-astronaut-william-anders-plane-crashes-northwest-of-seattle.html?playlist_id=watch-history

[Doc91678]

Indeed!.. Perhaps this is the way he wanted to meet his maker.

[SunkenCiv]

The day before Christmas, 1968. The astronauts of Apollo 8 read from Genesis as they orbited the moon for the first time, crossing the dark side and into the brilliant light of the sun. The reading, broadcast to the world, not only expressed the wonder experienced by the astronauts and marked the historic moment: the first time humans had flown to the moon and looked back at Earth. Subsequently, an atheist group sued. The action that went nowhere, but on later missions astronauts were a little more circumspect about expressing purely Christian themes and readings.

Apollo 8 and the Reading of Genesis - 4K | 1:57
SpaceRip | 935K subscribers | 33,570 views | August 1, 2019

[Mat_Helm]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP6ioGvg4as

[Rummyfan]

We’ve Lost Another Great One

[Drago]

Good interview with Bill here....from 6 years ago, he was in great shape then:

https://youtu.be/YJ0xo1NcHK0?si=owFbWbdbykdegoAh

RIP “Earthrise Photographer”.

[Texan4Life]

Airline and private pilot Juan Browne discusses the Bill Anders crash.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0aDSMUh9N8

[Texan4Life]

Apollo 8 Commemorative Stamp