Bill Munich OK after ditching private plane

Bill Munich knew he would have to ditch his private plane in the Sound, because his engine had failed. But just prior to setting it down near Orcas Island’s White Beach in the early evening Friday, Aug. 23,, he gave the engine one more try. It sputtered, not enough to keep him from regaining sufficient altitude, but just enough so nearby residents could learn of his dire predicament.

“If his engine hadn’t started,” said Allan Spaulding, “Nancy (his wife) wouldn’t have heard it. She yelled for me. She knew something was wrong.”

Munich, who has been flying for decades, expertly made a three-point landing. It kept the plane from flipping over, and enabled him to get out of the plane safely. Winds were approximately 12 knots when he ditched the plane.

The door next to Munich’s pilot seat popped open on impact. That brought water pouring into the plane, but it also gave Munich a quick exit. He figures he had “less than a minute” to get out before the plane sank, approximately 200 yards from shore. He then started to swim toward land, but he admits that it would have been difficult making it.

Fortunately, Munich would never have to find that out. While he was beginning his swim, Spaulding raced to his dinghy, then headed out to the buoy where his 13-foot Whaler was waiting. Spaulding directed the Whaler to Munich, who was able to climb into the boat, then was brought safely back to shore.

A registered nurse who was visiting the island was waiting to assist Munich when he reached land. Munich was fully alert, but had lacerations on his face. Nancy Spaulding, who had earlier called 911, brought down ice and towels.

Munich was reluctant to go to the clinic, but he eventually relented, and was taken to the Orcas Island Medical Center in an ambulance. On-call physician Stan Williams stitched him up, then sent him home.

Munich refused to take credit for his landing. “I just did what I had to do,” he said.

As for Spaulding, he was thrilled to have been able to help, but he admitted to being shook up by the experience. “I was hyper-ventilating,” he said.

Divers searched for the plane for several days, but were unable to located it at press deadline.

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