Overview
- A Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11 crashed near Rimrock Lake during a routine training flight, and the pilot ejected safely before impact and was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
- The wreckage started a brush fire on the south side of the lake, prompting camper evacuations, closure of the Forest Road 1200 area, and structure protection near the Bear Creek cabins.
- Local fire crews, U.S. Forest Service engines and multiple helicopters fought the blaze into the evening and cleared the immediate scene while water tenders and mop-up plans remained in place for the following day.
- The Marine Corps has labeled the incident a non‑fatal aviation mishap and opened a formal investigation that may take months and has withheld detailed findings and the pilot’s identity to preserve the inquiry.
- Rimrock Lake sits inside the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and the crash highlights safety concerns about military training flights near popular public recreation areas and the secondary risk of wildfire from downed aircraft.