Does anyone know the story on the SeaRey? Partially sunk in Lake Isabell. I don’t have any info on what happened and don’t want to start a big discussion. I have a C182P on floats at Kenmore. I am only offering to help if I can.

There was some info posted about it on a FB site a few months ago. If I remember correctly, it suffered a "hard landing" and compromised the hull.

Not a good look for float flying to leave it there if that's the case. I've never been to Isabell. Is it not road accessible?

I didnt notice it there last week but it looks like it has been pulled up to the beach so maybe someone is working on it. It is firmly tied to a tree.
Just for those not familiar, Lake Isabell is the only lake in the lower 48 in a designated wilderness area that allows floatplanes. As such, no there is no road access. The hike in is only about 3 miles but the last 500 feet vertical happens in less than half a mile. It is a scramble up tree roots.
But worth it as it is a truly spectacular place.

My map is 50 years old so Forest Service roads may not be open.


Google Earth coordinates for the Trail head.


How to get there. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/lake-isabel

Road not required for airplane removal.
Years ago a guy crashed a Helio on floats trying to depart Isabel.
long story short he had it helo'd out & down to Monroe airport.
FWIW as I recall he was a Monroe city councilman.

https://www.supercub.org/forum/showthre ... ep-in-lake

In the course of googling this,
I discovered that this same pilot was later in a fatal Searey crash at Banks Lake in eastern WA.

http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2014/05/b ... state.html

No. it doesn't even have a usable trail to it. It is more of a bushwhack to get to the lake from what I have been told. I haven't tried it. .02

Well that makes that lake even cooler. I hope the guy has a plan to repair and fly it out or have it helo'd out.

Or I'm gonna go get it

Zzz wrote:.... I hope the guy has a plan to repair and fly it out or have it helo'd out.
Or I'm gonna go get it

Dunno about any plans the owner may have,
but it's been up there since last October.
I'd say go for it.

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/308622

A flyover yesterday showed it is up on the beach. So someone is working on it.

There's an active plan to remove it with a helicopter, shouldn't be long

nickelb wrote:There's an active plan to remove it with a helicopter, shouldn't be long

That's great news.

FWIW, this is Lake Isabell - it's right on the western edge of the Cascades with feet, horses or aircraft the only way in or out.

Isabel lake was probably named by Albert Hale, The first Forest Supervisor of the Wenatchee National Forest in 1908. I was told by one of the editors of the Wenatchee World newspaper, who also lives in Albert Hales' first Forest Service House in Wenatchee WA, That Albert named lakes in the mountains after his girl friends. The girl friends part of the story may be embellished as he was married. He did name a lot of lakes after Women though. A review of a current map of the Wenatchee National Forest confirms that.

He was a topographer mapping the Cascades of Washington between 1897and 1907. The area was unexplored and natural features did not have names so he began putting names on lakes and mountains. His prolific place naming was due in part to Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief of the Forest Service.

At that time the national forests were relatively new and often largely un-mapped and lacking in place names. In order to better protect the forests from wildfire Pinchot felt it was necessary to have names for natural features and detailed maps so that fires could be located by name and fire fighters sent to the right places.

If the owner of the Searey is able to repair and fly it again it would be fitting to name it "Isabel"

Read about the names he gave to places in the Washington cascades and who they were named after. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Hale_Sylvester