Plane Crashes Into A Tree In Waldport

photo provided by LCSO

On February 11, 2026, at approximately 1:35pm, The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an airplane crash at the Wakonda Beach Airport in Waldport. The aircraft was reported to be severely damaged, with the pilot still inside, and stuck approximately 50 feet up in the trees. Emergency responders from the The Lincoln County Technical Rescue Team members arrived on scene and contacted the pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft. The team ascended the tree and were able to rescue the pilot returning him safely to the ground where he was evaluated by medical staff.

The cause of the crash is still unknown and under investigation. The investigation was turned over to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). For the Lincoln County Technical Rescue Team this was a rather unusual and complex call but with multiple fire agencies, ambulance, life flight, PUD and law enforcement everyone worked together for a successful outcome. This year is the 15th year since the Lincoln County Technical Rescue (or rope rescue) team was formed. The aircraft call was also a milestone for the team, with it being their 100th rescue.