Navy Mourns Loss of Two Aviators After Fatal EA-18G Crash Near Mount Rainier
Federal investigators continue examining the cause of a fatal Navy EA-18G Growler crash near Mount Rainier that claimed the lives of two highly regarded aviators. The aircraft went down during a routine training mission on October 15, 2024, in rugged, forested terrain east of the mountain.
The Navy identified the crew as Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay P. Evans, 31, of Palmdale, California, and Lt. Serena N. Wileman, 31, of California. Both served with Electronic Attack Squadron 130, the “Zappers,” based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
Evans, a Naval Flight Officer, took part in the first all-female flyover at Super Bowl LVII in 2023, marking five decades of women in naval aviation. Wileman, a Naval Aviator commissioned in 2018, joined the Zappers several years later and earned awards including the Navy Unit Commendation Medal and Combat Action Ribbon. Both had recently returned from a combat deployment aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, where they flew missions supporting operations in the Red Sea region.
Wreckage was located the day after the crash at roughly 6,000 feet in steep, heavily wooded terrain that complicated recovery efforts. By the following Sunday, the Navy confirmed both aviators had perished and shifted from search-and-rescue to recovery operations.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the loss of two cherished Zappers,” said Cmdr. Timothy Warburton, the squadron’s commanding officer. “Our priority is supporting their families, our sailors, and the Growler community.”
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee authorized the National Guard to provide round-the-clock security near the site as Navy teams prepared for a long-term salvage effort. The exact cause remains under investigation.
The EA-18G Growler, a specialized electronic warfare aircraft derived from the F/A-18 Super Hornet, serves as the Navy’s primary platform for that mission. The first aircraft arrived at Whidbey Island in 2008 and have since supported operations worldwide.
U.S. Senator Patty Murray, who had met Evans during a base visit, described her as “a pioneering leader who broke barriers and made history.” She extended condolences to both families, noting that the aviators “paved the way for generations of women who will follow in their footsteps.”
The deaths of Evans and Wileman represent a profound loss for the Navy and military aviation. Both stood out for their skill, service, and contributions to expanding opportunities for women in combat aviation. Their legacy of courage and achievement endures as the investigation proceeds.
