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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.