Two Incidents Today on Oregon Coast: Body Recovery at Devils Churn, Plane Crash Near Yachats

Published 02/11/26 at 7:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Yachats, Oregon) – Two separate and dramatic incidents on the central Oregon coast had completely different outcomes today (Wednesday, February 11). A small plane crashed into trees at the airport just north of Yachats, but the day began with the grim task of recovering a body from the Devils Churn. (Photos above LCTRT)

Oregon State Police and Yachats Rural Fire Protection District received word early in the day there was a body floating in the Devils Churn just south of Yachats. Numerous agencies responded about noon today, including Lincoln County Technical Rescue Team (LCTRT). They provided photos of the operation which showed numerous ropes and pulley systems letting the team down into the dangerous waters of the central Oregon coast attraction. It's a spot where waves are always highly active.

The team reportedly retrieved the body within a half hour.

Oregon State Police told Oregon Coast Beach Connection they have identity of the individual: a 39-year-old male. They do not know how he ended up in the water.

Roughly an hour later, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office received a second unusual call.

“On February 11, 2026, at approximately 1:35pm, The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office receive a report of an airplane crash at the Wakonda Beach Airport in Waldport, OR,” the LCTRT said.

Yachats Rural Fire Protection District and several other agencies responded to the scene, where the aircraft was found severely damaged and lodged about 50 feet up in the trees with the pilot still inside.

Upon arrival, crews located the small plane in a precarious spot, but with the pilot able to communicate with responders below. Because of the complexity of the rescue, the Lincoln County Technical Rescue Team was called in once again. The airport was closed, and additional resources - including an aircraft rescue and firefighting unit from Newport Fire - were brought in. The pilot, the sole occupant, was safely extricated and brought to the ground at 3:14 p.m.

No injuries or fatalities resulted from the crash, and officials say there is no ongoing threat to the community. The cause remains under investigation and has been turned over to the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.

“Today has been a long a busy day for the team,” the LCRTR said on social media. “Starting off this morning assisting Oregon State Police with a body recovery at Devils Churn, the team was called out from that call to a second at Wakonda Airport for an aircraft that crashed into a tree.”

The agency noted the call was unusual and complex, involving multiple fire departments, ambulance crews, Life Flight, public utilities, and law enforcement.

However, there was something to commemorate for the team.

“This year is the 15th year since the team was formed,” the team said. “The aircraft call was also a milestone for the team, with it being out 100th rescue!”

All this comes not long after there was a train derailment in Toledo and a helicopter crash on the central Oregon coast last month as well.

Helicopter Crash on Central Oregon Coast's East Lincoln County Injures One - Pilot is okay, transferred to hospital with non-life threatening injuries

Train Derailment Shuts Down Some Central Oregon Coast Roads Briefly - It appears as if part of train trestle gave way

 

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