The Navy mourns the loss of two airmen following the fatal EA-18G crash near Mount Rainier
Federal investigators are working to determine the cause of the devastating crash of a Navy EA-18G Growler near Mount Rainier, which claimed the lives of two highly respected airmen. The aircraft went down during a routine training mission in a rugged, wooded area east of the mountain, raising questions about how such an advanced aircraft could have been lost so suddenly.
On Monday, the Navy identified the fallen crew members as Lt. Cm. Lyndsay P. Evans, 31, of Palmdale, California, and Lt. Serena N. Wileman, also 31, also of California. Both were assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 130, known as the “Zappers,” based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
Evans, a naval flight officer, recently made history by participating in the first all-female flyover at Super Bowl LVII in 2023, honoring five decades of women in naval aviation. Wileman, a naval aviator commissioned in 2018, joined the Zappers three years later and has received multiple awards, including the Navy Unit Recognition Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon.
The wreckage was found a day after the crash at an altitude of approximately 1,800 meters in rugged, wooded terrain, which complicated the recovery efforts. On Sunday, the Navy confirmed the deaths of both pilots and shifted the operations from search and rescue to recovery.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of two beloved Zappers,” stated Squadron Commander Timothy Warburton. “Our priority is to support their families, our sailors, and the Growler community.”
Washington Governor Jay Inslee authorized the National Guard to provide 24-hour security near the site while Navy teams prepare for long-term rescue operations. The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation.
