A float plane capsized Tuesday afternoon, July 25, while traveling across Foster Lake at low speed, pulling a girl on an inner tube.
No one was injured, and the plane was recovered from the lake.
The plane, a 1960 Champion piloted by John Andrew McKinney, 57, of Lebanon, set out on the surface of Foster Lake from Shea Point, traveling east to Calkins Park and then north toward Lewis Creek Park before heading back toward Shea Point, located at the city limits on the south side of Foster Lake.
Linn County Undersheriff Jim Yon said that McKinney had turned toward Shea Point to empty water out of the pontoons.
While en route, the girl fell into the water, and the plane circled around to pick her up.
During the turn, Yon said, one of the pontoons filled with water.
As a result the plane tilted forward. The pilot and a passenger easily and safely exited the aircraft as it slowly flipped over onto its back.
A nearby boater picked them up from the water and towed the capsized plane to Shea Point.
Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District, Oregon Department of Forestry Sweet Home Unit and Sweet Home Police Department responded to the incident at about 3:20 p.m. Shea Point was closed during the recovery of the plane and into the evening.
Langdon Construction responded to the scene and, assisted by the pilot, used a forklift to lift the plane, flip it upright and tow it onto the shore.
Aboard the aircraft when it capsized were McKinney and passenger Cindy Marie Blondin Witherington, 57, of Sweet Home. Blondin’s granddaughter, Allie Blondin, 11, was riding the inner tube.
The Federal Aviation Administration is not responding to do an investigation because it considers the plane a boat when it is on the water, Yon said. The Oregon State Marine Board and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have been notified.
The investigation is continuing, he said.