The Department of Natural Resources, state police, friends and family gather on the Jonathan Miller’s lawn after Miller crash landed his seaplane.
Jonathan Miller’s Aviat Husky the day after the crash.
Jonathan Miller’s Aviat Husky the day after the crash.
Jonathan Miller’s Bobcat that lifted the plane out of the water.
Jonathan Miller’s Aviat Husky the day after the crash.
HARRIS CREEK — Jonathan Miller triple checked before landing his Aviat Husky seaplane on Harris Creek in front of his home on Thursday afternoon. The next thing Miller knew, his plane was partially submerged.
“I was just befuddled,†Miller said. His wife watched the incident from their dock, and immediately called local law enforcement. “I was very fortunate because, you know, a lot of times these types of accidents are fatal,†Miller said.
Miller was flying back to his Harris Creek home from the Potomac Airfield near Fort Washington before the crash. “Everything was normal, you know? I had my flaps down, my speed was right, and as I was coming in it was flaring, which really slows you down,†Miller said. “As I touched down, I knew something was asunder.â€
Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources was the first on the scene, quickly followed by state police. Miller said officials made him aware of his legal responsibility for the incident as the one who crashed the plane, but he said they were kind about it.
Miller and his wife bought their home in 2017 and moved in in 2022. Miller said after the crash, neighbors he hadn’t even met yet were checking in to make sure he was okay, and these neighbors stuck around to help out as crews worked to remove the plane from the creek.
“It really turned out as best as it could for a bad situation,†said TowBoat U.S. driver Adam Lawrence.
Lawrence showed up to begin salvaging the plane around 5 p.m. and got it out of the water in one piece with the help of Miller’s Bobcat by 12:30 a.m. Lawrence said he made it home by around 2 a.m.
Lawrence described the task as an interesting salvage. “I enjoyed the process, but I don’t wish that upon anyone,†he said.
Miller was overwhelmed with the community’s response. Neighbors came by throughout the night and people came by on boat to ask if they could help. He was particularly impressed with how DNR and law enforcement responded to the scene. “I want to give a shout out to every one of our government employees that are front lines,†Miller said.
He said situations like these truly show you how good humankind is and make him especially grateful to live in a place where people look out for each other.
“This is one of the reasons we love living on the Shore, because of the community and the way people help each other,†Lawrence said.
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