Navy Identifies Pilots Killed in Mount Rainier Training Flight Crash

On October 15, the Navy verified that Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay "Miley" Evans and Lt. Serena "Dug" Wileman, both 31, were the two aviators who perished in a crash involving a Navy EA-18G Growler near Mount Rainier. From their main base at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, the incident took place approximately 180 miles away.

The pilots, who were members of Electronic Attack Squadron 130 (VAQ-130), were participating in a routine training flight when the aircraft crashed. The wreckage was located, and the loss of life was confirmed by rescuers, who encountered challenging terrain and severe weather conditions over the weekend. East of Mount Rainier, in a remote, wooded area, the accident site was discovered at 6,000 feet.

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Commanding officer of VAQ-130, Cmdr. Timothy Warburton conveyed the squadron's sorrow. The loss of two cherished Zappers is shared with a sorrowful heart. We are currently focused on the well-being of our Sailors, the Growler community, and the families of our deceased aviators.

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Evans and Wileman, experienced pilots, flew numerous combat missions in the Red Sea earlier this year. They were members of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower's Carrier Strike Group, which provided support for operations that included defense against drone and missile threats from Houthi militants in Yemen.

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Soldiers from the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) supported the search and recovery operations. Efforts to safely recover the aircraft are ongoing, and the Navy is still investigating the cause of the accident.

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