The U.S. Navy is grieving the deaths of two highly regarded officers after their EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft crashed in the remote, mountainous terrain east of Mount Rainier during a routine training mission. Officials identified the fallen aviators as Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay P. Evans and Lt. Serena N. Wileman, both 31 and from California. The two were assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 130, the “Zappers,” based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
The incident occurred on Oct. 15, 2024. Search teams later located the wreckage at roughly 6,000 feet in steep, heavily wooded country that made access extremely difficult. After the operation shifted from search-and-rescue to recovery, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee authorized National Guard personnel to help secure the site. Cmdr. Timothy Warburton, commanding officer of VAQ-130, said the squadron’s immediate focus remained on supporting the families while investigators examined the technical and environmental factors that may have contributed to the loss of the $67 million aircraft.
Both women were recognized as leaders who helped expand opportunities for women in naval aviation. Evans, a Naval Flight Officer, took part in the first all-female flyover at Super Bowl LVII, an event marking 50 years of women in naval flight. Wileman, a Naval Aviator commissioned in 2018, had earned the Navy Unit Commendation Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon among other awards. Colleagues and senior leaders described them as skilled professionals, mentors, and role models whose careers demonstrated both technical excellence and a commitment to opening doors for those who followed.
Tributes arrived from across the service and from elected officials. U.S. Sen. Patty Murray called the pair pioneering leaders whose service advanced the presence of women in high-performance combat aviation. The broader Growler community and the Navy as a whole continue to process the loss while underscoring the inherent risks of military flight training and the lasting contributions of those who accept them.
The investigation into the cause of the crash remains ongoing. In the meantime, the Navy has emphasized its priority of caring for the families of Lt. Cmdr. Evans and Lt. Wileman and of preserving the memory of two officers who embodied professionalism, courage, and the steady expansion of opportunity in naval aviation.
