Family says body of former NASA astronaut recovered after plane crash in San Juan Islands

Former NASA Astronaut William "Bill" Anders was flying the plane that crashed in the waters of the San Juan Islands on Friday, his son, Greg, confirmed.

[@haveaday1812]

I have been Bill Anders pool guy for 2 years at his home in San Diego. I’ve met his family and had many wonderful conversations with him over the years. In fact, I spoke with him about a week ago before he left for his summer home in Washington. We spoke about still being able to fly after having his hip replacement. I’m shocked at this news and saddened. As someone who actually knew him, he was real life American hero. Never met a more accomplished human being, and who remained as humble as he was. Rest in peace Bill. I will miss our backyard afternoon conversations.Thanks for all you did for this nation.❤

[@freedomfightergrl5615]

Thanks for posting that.

[@dahnoied6893]

Thank you for sharing. I'm saddened for all those who knew him.

[@curbozerboomer1773]

Sorry...but a 90yo guy insisting he can still be a pilot at that age, cannot be described as being "humble". His advanced age, and his hubris, allowed him to make a serious mistake. I guess the last thing to go, when being elderly, is your ego! He was a good man, who let his ego override his judgment.

[@nadogrl]

Thank you for your tribute to the man. ❤

[@recreationalmobility]

@@curbozerboomer1773 Plenty of younger folks can't even drive properly. Flying (at any age) takes honed skills you can't imagine if your stuck on the ground.

[@TheMichaelBeck]

Took the most famous photo in history, quoted Genesis on Christmas while orbiting the moon, and went out doing what he loved more than anything. A life very well lived. Rest in peace, Sir. "God bless all of You, all of You on the good Earth." ~ Apollo 8

[@leonardodalongisland]

The greatest photograph ever taken (and I've seen all of the Great ones)....A pilot went out as a pilot. Thank you Sir.

[@trob0914]

RIP, General, your country owes you gratitude for your many years of Service! THANK YOU🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@1destructivepony]

Was it an aircraft crash conspiracy? Did he know too much about aliens ?

[@marktinsley8002]

Luck guy. He died at 90 doing what he loved. Not laying in hospice in a hospital bed. May we all be that lucky. What a true American hero. RIP….job well done.

[@walterheinen5298]

Amen Brother. That aircraft helped him make it to 90.

[@rickallen1908]

RIP Sir, Thank You for you service...

[@user-uy2vj5xe8l]

Thanks for saving 1968.

[@user-ev4rp3qb6x]

That they did ……

[@TimDurkan]

Rest in peace and thank you for your service to our country 🙏

[@markr447]

Miscalculated a split "S" with insufficient altitude for the maneuver. Appears to clearly have control as he rolls inverted and pulls up, but with to much speed and sink to recover level flight without ground impact. CFIT.

[@zebonautsmith1541]

an AI system would have prevented the miscalculation; and not allowed such a maneuver at insufficient altitude. RIP. Earthrise was my favorite pic of all time.

[@dahawk8574]

"Miscalculated a split "S" " There is actually nothing to calculate. When the bottom is sea level, then your AGL altitude is read STRAIGHT off the altimeter. So a thorough investigation will give consideration to 'willful' as one possible explanation.

[@miteco1]

@@zebonautsmith1541 lol, non pilot commentary = funny

[@fredsalfa]

How could someone with so much experience make a mistake like that?

[@sblack48]

@@dahawk8574Misjudged might be a better word. You do have to calculate, or at least remember the correct combination of entry altitude and speed. The faster you go the more altitude you need for a given G. So if he was too fast or too low he was doomed. I doubt we will ever know.

[@twoZJs]

Just so glad he did not have anyone w/him. I mear judgement miss by just 50 yards. Sending peace to his close relatives&Corps Buddies. Bill, "Thanks for your full-hearted service".

[@timheavrin2253]

RIP MG Anders. I remember Apollo 8 very well. I was only 8 years old then. Condolences to your family, Sir.

[@user-lo6cf3df1x]

That's why altitude is your friend.Unfortunately he misjudged not the first time a mustang did that

[@jimw1615]

Bill wasn't flying the P-51 Mustang, however.

[@asquare9316]

He was flying a T-34 Mentor.

[@eViLxAnGeLx18]

Daaannnggggg...so tragic. RIP Good Sir (Gen. Bill Anders). ✝️🙏🏻🕯️ Thank you for so many years of service and dedication to our country. God Bless You! ❤ 🪖🎖️🇺🇲🌍👩🏻‍🚀🚀🌝

[@sandrahall9033]

OMG sorry to hear that! My condolences and heart go out to Bill and his family. Rest in peace. God Bless from the Blue Sun!

[@carlnash7200]

After Armstrong Anders was my favorite astronaut. Amazing family history.

[@royalacity]

Poor man. RIP Bill. ❤

[@sblack48]

poor man? he went to the moon, changed the world and was still flying at 90. We should all be that "poor".

[@monostripezebras]

uhoh.. 90? that sounds a bit like someone knew his flight surgeon a bit too well.

[@jonathanr2830]

My thoughts, prayers, and deepest condolences go to Major General Anders' family, loved ones, and friends. Rest in peace, Bill Anders. I remember watching in awe, as Apollo 8 orbited the Moon in 1968. I especially remember you and your fellow astronauts reading from The Holy Bible "from the Moon to the good Earth." That has stayed with me on my long and blessed journey through life. What wonders lie ahead!

[@Korbeanos]

its so sad that this had to happen and that it had to happen so close to me. i too live in anacortes

[@ruthmichigander]

Heartbreaking! My condolences to his family.

[@theseventhgeneration6910]

He died doing what he loved. Now he's hanging out with the rest of his buddies and I'm sure that they are talking about the good ol' days. RIP rocket man. May your legacy remain forever.

[@Retr0racin]

Doing aerobatics at 90 years old idk about that.

[@gs1100ed]

I think you meant Acrobatics. Aerobics is a type of exercise.

[@Retr0racin]

@@gs1100ed lol thanks guess spell checker got me

[@Vespyr_]

@@gs1100ed No, he's actually right. _Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft The term is a portmanteau of "aeroplane" and "acrobatics"_

[@daviddou1408]

@@gs1100ed Acrobatics? Check yourself before you check others.

[@gs1100ed]

@@daviddou1408 thank you for shaming me! It feels fantastic. Hope YOU feel better now.

[@afb911]

R.I.P. your service is greatly appreciated

[@oldguyofarizona8602]

Very sorry to hear this. Great man.

[@quantummotion]

Godspeed Bill. You made your country proud, gave humanity views it never dreamed of, and served your people well through the decades. Despite the tragedy of your last day, you did what you always loved to do, and thats fly. My sincerest condolences to the family as they mourn, but also celebrate his life.

[@johnclutter4427]

Condolences to General Anders family and friends. Sad to see this. Soaring to the heavens and the far side of the moon on APOLLO 8 was a life lived to fullest. He died doing what he loved to do and on such a beautiful day once again soaring to the heavens for eternity.🙏🇺🇲

[@texastedskol]

RIP Sir.

[@wsteele5864]

This reminds me of an accident in Lake Tahoe back in the early 90's. A guy named Don Beck and his passenger were doing aerobatics in Beck's Christian Eagle off the Burnt Cedar Beach in Incline Village NV. Beck started a loop with inadequate altitude and went in before he could finish the loop. His passenger was the Chief of the local fire department.

[@bobshenk5234]

To all those complaining about age, hundreds of pilots at age 20, 30, 4 0, have had similar crashes, usually from misjugement of altitude. I guess they were too old also? And to the ones hinting at suicide, those go straight in, they don't come within inches of clearing the surface.

[@45035]

Outstanding shipmate. Press on. USS Kitty Hawk CV-63. Jan 1980 to July 1983. As A Navy aircraft carrier sailor I thank you for your serves Sr.

[@user-uy2vj5xe8l]

Rest in peace and Godspeed. The Apollo eight crew were the star children from 2001:space odyssey

[@jimdavis6833]

Which was one of the dumbest movies EVER.

[@tangocharlie9291]

As a pilot… IF I’m still flying at 90, this is exactly how I want to go.

[@Stratboy999]

90yr old pilots performing aerobatics with high G's. What could possibly go wrong? Thank Christ he didn't have anyone else in the plane with him.

[@JCT442]

I have ultimate respect for all Mercury & Apollo astronauts. I'm not so sure a 90 year old man should be piloting an airplane solo... maybe not even a car these days.

[@jimdavis6833]

My best friend's mother-in-law drove from Arkansas to Florida and back at 91 by herself. At 93 she was still shopping by herself. She died a week before turning 94.

[@MichaelRainey-hr3cq]

My condolences to the family . Please take heart in knowing he died doing what he loved , the visceral thrill of flying.

[@Gulfstream650SP]

Rest in peace 😢😢😢🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@marlenepetoskey487]

So sad, God bless him and his family. Also his fellow astronauts.😢

[@hwh888]

The most iconic photo of our Earth. I marvel every time I view it.

[@paulbervid1610]

So sad

[@sblack48]

really? did you think he was going to live forever? how many people get to 90? not many. And many linger on in dementia. He was healthy and vibrant right to the end. I'm not sad at all. I'm happy for his awesome life.

[@paulbervid1610]

@@sblack48 the crash

[@330capt]

A firm salute and a job "well done", Bill! RIP. Condolences to all his friends and family members.

[@mulukensand5370]

Rest in paradise! 🕊️May God bless you😢❤️🙏🏾

[@jonanaimo]

Very sad that Anders passed this way -- while engaging in what he loved to do. Will always remember that he was the one who gave us a new perspective of our planet.

[@poppyrowland1385]

Oh no😢😢😢😢. No no no. How awful. Deep condolences to his family. Will be remembered also for that amazing first photo of the earth rising over the horizon of the moon. RIP.

[@donpeters9849]

He knew exactly what he was doing. End of life decision.

[@chuckaddison5134]

Maybe, maybe not. Heart attack, stroke, G forces at 90 years old, too slow reaction, misjudgement. We'll have to wait on the autopsy and probably the NTSB report.

[@tymcfadden8496]

Oh I highly doubt that, he had a lot to live for. He just made a bad decision and executed a split s maneuver too low and couldn't recover the aircraft quickly enough.

[@candicavasos4866]

My dad did something similar like that in 2020. But inside was his will and cash .

[@tymcfadden8496]

@@chuckaddison5134 Looked to me like he was fighting it the whole way down, incapacitation would generally cause the plane to go straight in, he went in at less than 45degree down angle. I think he just miscalculated the altitude needed for a split S and ran out of room to pull out. Believe it or not it was caught on video... you can watch from when he went inverted all the way to the impact and it really looks like he was fighting for it the whole way.

[@donpeters9849]

@@tymcfadden8496 So he forgot how to fly?

[@lajoswinkler]

I hope his grieving family will find some solace in the fact that he has died doing what he loved, flying. May he rest in peace.

[@deweysturgill6220]

God Bless, and God Speed sir. Your wings are now eternal. Thank you for your service to our nation.

[@user-wy9xc6mi6q]

❤❤❤ live your life, ❤❤❤ plan to fly, dangers, ❤

[@flyingfortressrc1794]

RIP Hero.

[@RHMEs-kg4iu]

A sad day for the family but you have to ask should a 90 year old pilot be doing high G maneuvers astronaut or not!

[@sblack48]

You have to pass a class 3 medical to fly a private aircraft. If you can do that you can do what you want. How could they possibly establish an age limitation? Everyone is different. Everyone's genetics and physical fitness is different. Everyone's cognitive decline is different. Everyone's basic G tolerance is different. Do you want to go and arbitrarily tell all 70 yr olds they can't do a loop? That's ridiculous. You don't know anything about him and you probably also don't know anything about aviation medicine and you don't know what caused the crash so your opinion isn't worth much.

[@washburnb1]

I wonder if it was a structural failure. Would he have done that maneuver that low altitude? Perhaps aileron or rudder controls? RIP

[@hopelessnerd6677]

The most famous photographer in human history.

[@vrosi1963]

rip sir

[@StewieGriffin505]

Medical event? Why would an experienced pilot do this?

[@fredsalfa]

I wonder what happened to him? Why did the accident happen?

[@carolecampbell8813]

How about he was 90, had had a hip replacement, and mistakes happen unfortunately sometimes even to the best.

[@everythingvideos24]

Even I know doing loops and rolls being at a low alltitude isn't a good idea.

[@dennisstoesz]

I remember Apollo 8 flight .God's speed Bill Anders !

[@edcew8236]

Your imprecise language detracts from your reputation

[@cwpclass43]

For Jerry The History Buff

[@AaronBernstein-pw2me]

RIP

[@DanielSmith-lv5ed]

How would it look like special effects if u seen it in real life?

[@francinecorry633]

Practicing low level aerobatics at 93yrs old is probably not a good idea nor Dr. approved.T&P to family.

[@PlasmaCoolantLeak]

Aw, crap. Ad Astra, General.

[@BertFlanders]

What is the aircraft type?

[@jimw1615]

Type: Beechcraft T-34A (A45) Mentor Owner/operator: Apogee Flight Inc, Heritage Flight Museum Registration: N268AF MSN: G-828 Year of manufacture: 1961 Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 Aircraft damage: Destroyed Category: Accident

[@BertFlanders]

@@jimw1615 Thanks. Piston engine or PT-6?

[@jimw1615]

@@BertFlanders Continental O-470

[@BertFlanders]

@@jimw1615 Thanks

[@jed1947]

Did he G-lock or have some other medical event? We all have to go sometime, and he was doing what he loved and likely would not have suffered. Salute!

[@rollingstopp]

he almost made that Loop

[@godfreycarmichael]

He outlived Madalyn Murray O'Hair by 29 years.

[@D-Boss-1958]

Rest in Pieces Bill

[@ldebrobander]

Its tragic, and my sympathy goes out to his family. Pardon the pun, but lets not fly in the face of common sense. At 90, the risk of becoming disoriented or having a medical emergency is very high! It is so much safer to have a co-pilot in the cockpit with you, at any age. I will be very interested in the autopsy results when they are released.

[@giancarlomaster2535]

Falla mecánica

[@proudamerican3651]

Bill Anders was one of the first three "MEN"........ not humans. Bill Anders was a "MAN"""... Dont get it twisted.

[@66jediknight]

looks like human error

[@hansoll5126]

We need term limits in congress and age limits for pilots. 90 years old are you kidding me? He could have hurt people on the lake.

[@karengambrell3122]

It's the Salish sea.

[@MrTruthing]

Very sad indeed! I pray for his family and praise God for what he allowed Bill Anders to see and do!

[@aimlessphotographer]

Someone of 90 years shouldn’t even be allowed to be flying a plane.

[@tomtom6319]

90 years old. Nobody should be piloting a plane alone at 90 years old.

[@ldebrobander]

Spot on, TomTom!

[@christopheronwuka6793]

He is allowed to fly a plane at the age of 90??

[@daleferber2096]

Hey Chuck Yeager was flying at 90 !!

[@ArizonaAirspace]

You have to questions the mental stability of a 90 year old flying aerobatic maneuvers. Frankly I’m surprised he can even pass the flight physical at that age. Most people can’t even drive at that age, let alone fly an airplane.

[@robertsole9970]

Who said he passed it.

[@ArizonaAirspace]

@@robertsole9970 If he didn’t have his medical then he was flying ILLEGALLY. And that airport manager and the local FAA FASDO manager should be investigated. You’d think someone as famous as he is, the FAA would check to see if he has the Pilot Medical. A 90 year old has no business flying aerobatics, alone, regardless of whether he was a former astronaut or not.

[@robertsole9970]

@@ArizonaAirspace perhaps, but as an astronaut and hero, nobody was going to tell him he’s grounded. It’s his plane at his facility, pretty sure he could go fire up his planes and do what he wanted.

[@bobharrison7693]

@@ArizonaAirspaceWhere do you get the idea that he didn't have a valid medical? The airport manager has zero responsibility or authority to confirm pilot qualifications. The FAA FSDO manager has far more on his plate than confirming pilot credentials beyond routine ramp checks. Having given a Flight Review to Bill's son, Allan, I can attest to the fact Bill Anders' operation at Skagit Airport is most professional and by-the-book.

[@ArizonaAirspace]

@@bobharrison7693 You need to learn to read, old man. Had you taken the time to read, you would have caught the fact that I wrote I am surprised that he can even pass the physical. You need to chill out before getting your panties in a wad.

[@glennwhitehead6484]

Why was a 90 year old allowed to be piloting a plane in the first place? We all know he's a great guy but there is a limit. Looks like the plane dropped like a stone, was he dead at the controls??

[@daleferber2096]

I could not think of a better way to go out. Dale Snodgrass went out that way Don't worry Bill, Al Shephard and John Glenn are on your wing

[@ldebrobander]

I sure can!

[@daleferber2096]

@@ldebrobander Oh sure it would be so much better for a fighter pilot and an astronaut to go out with dementia or after having been in an ICU and on life support for a month

[@humbertovaldivieso5171]

thats THE WAY TO GO ! 90 years old doing acro in a P-51. VALHALLA ! I AM COMING !

[@GH-oi2jf]

Not a P-51.

[@asquare9316]

He was flying Val-Halla when he crashed. He was flying a T-34 Mentor. He had stopped flying the P-51some time ago. Listen to the video.

[@lisah.07]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🇺🇲♥️

[@user-kf5kq3bx2c]

🇺🇸😇🙏🕊️👍🦅💪

[@WorldOfWonder66]

Was he about to tell something they wanted to keep quiet? Something doesn't seem right here. RIP my heart goes out to the family

[@theboringchannel2027]

maybe the space lasers got him, or maybe he miscaluted the height of his aircraft before starting his move.

[@email4664]

Perhaps he crashed

[@Peter-gi3re]

Really…… straight away someone has to go to a conspiracy theory. The man was 90 years old and tried to perform a difficult maneuver….. and unfortunately he failed. Leave it at that.

[@josephdonovan7640]

Gods speed.

[@peterjones4621]

Very sad, flying at 90 years old I have to question. I've said it before, stay OUT of small planes, they are death traps. I will NEVER fly in one ever again, I'm surprised I did as a young man, temporary insanity I guess. Rest in peace Bill, I wish you'd stayed out of those small planes.

[@203207ab]

has about the same strength and stamina of joe biden.

[@reecom9884]

Doing aerobatics in a plane with only cables to the control the plane’s control surfaces is hard enough to control for an able bodied person if the plane got out of control, but for a 90 year old it would be almost impossible to manhandle the controls! It looked like he was fighting the controls to the end and almost succeeded in pulling the nose of the plane up.

[@michaelsteiger8509]

Total BS. I fly all types of planes. Cables, Fly by wire, hydraulic and push pull tubes. Control loading is there. It would never be certified to fly if it became to heavy at normal,operating speeds…. Most acro planes are cable or push pull tubes.. I own some.

[@reecom9884]

@@michaelsteiger8509 "Muscles lose 10% to 15% of their size and strength every year after age 50, particularly in those who are inactive. This condition, known as sarcopenia, rapidly progresses in people over 65 who may lose as much as 50% to 80% of their lower body strength over time..." 18 Sep 2021 Mayo Clinic News. Unless he was doing extensive muscle training to restore loss muscle mass due to age, his strength at 90 years old would have been greatly reduced.

[@reecom9884]

@@michaelsteiger8509 He was in a nose dive which greatly increases the aerodynamic forces on the control surfaces of the plane!

[@JohnDoe-zz3hj]

suicide liars have a harder time as they age. The complexity of guilt grows over time. He nose dived into the water, The suicide was recorded on video

[@pantaloonsxD]

Where was the GI Jetpack he needed.

[@TheMichaelBeck]

You have an evil soul. Karma is coming.

[@buzz5969]

Perhaps Doing loopy loos at 90 aint a good thing…. RIP

[@briangarrett6510]

Stanley Kubrick filmed the moon landing in Nevada

[@lookylook570]

And you don’t really exist…..

[@carolecampbell8813]

Sorry but he was too old to drive or pilot a plane. However, he was alone so no one else lost their life so I say he went out doing what he truly loved. I can think of many other ways to go that aren't so great as this but he loved it and I'd say knew the risk he was taking at his age. I pray he didn't realize when the end was inevitable, only happy to be flying.

[@Wonder-nl7qd]

He prolly past out ! He was 90 years old ! Rip old man

[@jasonwhite1069]

Prolly? What the hell does "prolly" mean?

[@hansoll5126]

@@jasonwhite1069 probably probably

[@Wonder-nl7qd]

@@jasonwhite1069 u must be " old"

[@miteco1]

​@@Wonder-nl7qd he prolly passed out when he pulled a gajillion G's bc he got a woody n'all the blood went to his second head so his first head passed out.

[@johnp139]

“past out”? Learn how to write.

[@Eweyouhew]

Type Aircraft? Look Aerobatic. 🫡

[@GH-oi2jf]

T-34 Mentor