Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders, who took famous ‘Earthrise’ photo, dies in plane crash
William Anders, the former Apollo 8 astronaut renowned for capturing the iconic “Earthrise” photo of Earth from space, tragically died in an airplane crash in Washington on Friday at the age of 90.
His son, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Greg Anders, confirmed the news to King5 and the Associated Press, stating that his father’s body had been recovered.
The crash occurred around 11:40 a.m. when an older model plane reportedly went into the water and sank in the San Juan Channel near Orcas Island, according to a news release from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office. The Federal Aviation Administration noted that Anders was the sole occupant of the aircraft.
The plane crashed approximately 80 feet offshore from Jones Island, Washington, under unknown circumstances, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
William Anders, best known as the lunar module pilot of Apollo 8, captured the iconic “Earthrise” photo, which he regarded as his most significant contribution to space exploration. The Apollo 8 mission, critical in paving the way for Apollo 11’s moon landing, was executed in just 16 weeks—much faster than the usual year-long preparation.
Born in Hong Kong on October 17, 1933, Anders grew up in San Diego. He joined NASA in 1964, focusing on areas such as dosimetry, radiation effects, and environmental control. Anders retired from the Air Force Reserves in 1988 and later served as chairman of General Dynamics Corporation from 1991 to 1994. He and his wife Valerie moved to Orcas Island in 1993, and they have six children and 13 grandchildren.
The aircraft involved in the crash was a Beechcraft A-45, also known as a T-34, which Anders reportedly owned.
The NTSB will examine the plane once it is recovered from the water, analyzing tracking data, air traffic control communications, and Anders’ flight experience. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, while the final report, including the probable cause of the crash, may take one to two years.
