Remains of Naval Crew From EA-18G Crash to be Returned to Washington State

The pilots, identified as Lieutenant Serena Wileman and Lieutenant Commander Lyndsay Evans, were killed when their EA-18G Growler crashed east of Mount Rainier on October 15.

The wreckage was found the next day on a steep mountainside at an elevation above 6,000 feet msl. The area was unreachable by ground vehicles, which made the rescue and recovery efforts particularly challenging as they were hampered by low visibility, precipitation, and freezing temperatures.

Five days following the crash, Navy officials confirmed that both aviators were dead.

The fighter jet was assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 130 (VAQ-130), known as the “Zappers,” based out of NAS Whidbey Island north of Seattle.

The aviators' remains are expected to return to the state from Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, this week.

Wileman's remains will arrive at Oak Harbor, Washington, on Monday, according to NAS Whidbey spokesperson Mike Welding.

In a message posted on social media, Wallin-Stucky Funeral Home said that a procession honoring Wileman was planned Monday evening for those who wished to pay respects.

Evans' remains will be returned to Anacortes, Washington, later this week. Per her family's wishes, it will be a private affair.

"The families of both [lieutenant] Wileman and [lieutenant commander] Evans wish to express their gratitude for the gracious support from the local and surrounding communities these past weeks," Welding said.

As previously reported by FLYING, the cause of the crash remains under investigation.