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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Man Lands Plane After Pilot Dies

From Staff And Wire Reports

The passenger of a float plane took over the controls after the pilot died, steering the plane to an emergency landing Wednesday at the Renton airport, authorities said.

The passenger, Leland Capps, 52, of Kent, had limited flying experience and was not a pilot. He was guided through the dramatic landing by the control tower for the airport at the south end of Lake Washington, said the Federal Aviation Administration and Renton police and fire officials.

“The plan was to land the aircraft on Lake Washington. The first attempt was unsuccessful for whatever reason,” said FAA duty officer Woody Cummings. “The second time he put the plane down on the water and then apparently the floats collapsed … and so the plane kind of slid onto the runway belly down.”

The front of the Cessna 206 sustained major damage, but Capps suffered only minor injuries, Renton police said.

Capps was treated at the scene and then airlifted to Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center, where he was checked and released.

The pilot was identified by the King County medical examiner’s office as Raymond Ihrke, 46, of Federal Way. He died after apparently suffering a heart attack at the controls, Renton fire officials said. An autopsy was scheduled Thursday.

The National Transportation Safety Board was investigating.