By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – As the third anniversary approaches of the crash that killed three aboard the plane belonging to a Chehalis-based eye clinic, the entryway to the local airport has been named in honor of the pilot, but authorities still aren’t exactly sure what happened.
The Cessna 340A wrecked about 10 minutes into its flight, in the mountains northeast of Morton on Oct. 25, 2010. No one survived.
Perishing were two employees of Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute and their pilot Ken Sabin. He and technician Rod Rinta, 43, both resided in Chehalis. Ophthalmologist Dr. Paul Shenk, 69, was from Woodland.
A probable cause report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board in August indicates it’s most likely the pilot experienced a partial loss of power of the right engine and after incorrectly turning into the failed engine, the plane became uncontrollable. The airplane continued a clockwise descending turn as it dropped off the radar at more than 10,000 feet, according to the report.
The issue with the engine was not determined because examination of the Cessna did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation, according to the NTSB.
The flight began at the Chehalis-Centralia Airport and was enroute to Lewiston, Idaho.
Airport Manager Allyn Roe said the question still isn’t answered as to what made Sabin turn into the engine.
“Those reports aren’t ever nice to read,” Roe said. “They will cite pilot error nine out of 10 times.”
Sabin, a member of the Centralia-Chehalis Airport Governing Board, was an experienced pilot with thousands of flight hours who clearly knew not to do that, he said.
“It’s the circumstances you’re given; you may or may not have a chance of getting out of it,” Roe said.
This summer, the entry drive at the south end of the airport was named Ken Sabin Way in his memory. Sabin was retired from Security State Bank and had more than 40 years experience as a pilot.
•••
For background, read:
• The NTSB report, here
• “Bad weather prevents recovery of plane crash victims” from Wednesday Oct. 27, 2010, here
• “Chehalis Cessna’s last transmission: ” ‘We’re losing it’ from Saturday Nov 20 2010, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
My comment was directed to the SAR member’s comment who was on the search. Thank you.
I am a daughter of the surgeon who died on this plane. I would so appreciate a phone call from you. I wish to thank you. I have great faith in God I will see my dad again, so I would only be blessed (not burdened) by any information and questions I think of often. Please call me anytime. My number is 971-285-5542. If you would rather email me, send me a text and I will send you my email. I also would love to thank this couple who sacrificed their anniversary for helping find my dad and the others. As you know, those were dark days. Please contact me if possible. I thank you so much.
And for all the SARs there that day. I thank you doing what you did.
As a SAR member who was on this search and recovery, this will never leave my mind. I feel for the families involved and pray that they never know what we had to deal with through our days on the site. I know that a couple in SAR sacrificed their 35th wedding anniversary just to help find the crash site and answers for the families involved. God Bless all that were involved and the families.