Cecilio Martinez told KIRO 7 he was home in Lake Stevens with his wife and two little nieces when a plane fell from the sky and crashed in his yard in Lake Stevens around 6 p.m. Sunday.
“It all happened so quick,” Martinez said. “The wing is probably no more than eight feet away from the propane tank.”
Moments before the crash, neighbors were watching the plane go through complicated maneuvers when suddenly something changed.
“When he did his last maneuver, you can kind of hear the engine went to idle,” said Adam Kretowicz.
After the crash, Martinez said he first checked on his family, then rushed over to check on the pilot.
“I figured he was gone because of the impact. When I saw him, he was moving around, which was good news, but he was bleeding heavily,” said Martinez.
Martinez says the pilot was conscious and talking as neighbors rushed in to help.
“I think one was checking his pulse, making sure he’s good, while my hand was on his wound. Another one is trying to provide more assistance… So I think, in general, the whole community here did a great job with that,” said Martinez. “I think he is very lucky to be alive.”
The pilot’s name has not been released, and the cause of the crash is under investigation.
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