Injured pilot in San Juan Is. crash ID'd as best-selling author
»Play Video
FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. - The pilot of a small plane that crashed Friday on San Juan Island has been identified as author Richard D. Bach, who wrote the runaway 1970s best-seller "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" and other books.
Bach, 76, is listed in serious condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he was airlifted after the crash.
San Juan County Sheriff Rob Nou says Bach was trying to land on a grass airstrip Friday afternoon when he caught power lines with his landing gear as he neared the runway.
The plane landed upside-down in a field about two miles west of Friday Harbor.
His son, James Bach, told The Associated Press that his father was on his way to visit a friend on San Juan Island on Friday when his amphibian plane clipped a power line during landing, and crashed.
James Bach says his father, who was flying alone, suffered a head injury and broken shoulder.
"Right now we're waiting for the sedation to wear off, for him to fully wake up," the son said Saturday morning.
Bach is widely known as the author of the hugely popular 1970s best-seller "Jonathan Livingston Seagull," which sold more than 1 million copies in 1972 alone. The book contained fewer than 10,000 words, yet it broke all hard-cover sales records since "Gone with the Wind," according to Wikipedia.
In the book, published in 1970, Bach writes of a philosophically minded seagull seeking to rise above the flock, which is focused on the dull regimen of finding food scraps. Jonathan is banished from the group only to come upon more enlightened gulls who guide him to spiritual lessons, which Jonathan then imparts to others.
The short, simply crafted book gained little to no critical attention upon publication, but rose to No. 1 for several weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and Bach quickly drew a loyal following.
In 1973, the book was turned into a movie, "Jonathan Livingston Seagull," produced by Paramount Pictures. The movie included a soundtrack by Neil Diamond.
Bach, who claims to be a direct descendant of Johann Sebastian Bach, has been a pilot for his adult life, often touching on his experience in the cockpit of his beloved plane in his writings.
Besides "Seagull," his other popular works include "Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah," a mystical story of a Midwestern barnstorming pilot's quest for self-discovery.
He often links the practice of flying to themes of a deeper spiritual quest.
"Dad described his religion as flying. He's a very avid aviator," James Bach said. "It would be terrible if he recovers and can't fly again - this guy needs to fly."
At the time of the crash, he was flying a 2008 Easton Gilbert G SEAREY aircraft that he nicknamed "Puff."
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash.
Bach, 76, is listed in serious condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he was airlifted after the crash.
San Juan County Sheriff Rob Nou says Bach was trying to land on a grass airstrip Friday afternoon when he caught power lines with his landing gear as he neared the runway.
The plane landed upside-down in a field about two miles west of Friday Harbor.
His son, James Bach, told The Associated Press that his father was on his way to visit a friend on San Juan Island on Friday when his amphibian plane clipped a power line during landing, and crashed.
James Bach says his father, who was flying alone, suffered a head injury and broken shoulder.
"Right now we're waiting for the sedation to wear off, for him to fully wake up," the son said Saturday morning.
Bach is widely known as the author of the hugely popular 1970s best-seller "Jonathan Livingston Seagull," which sold more than 1 million copies in 1972 alone. The book contained fewer than 10,000 words, yet it broke all hard-cover sales records since "Gone with the Wind," according to Wikipedia.
In the book, published in 1970, Bach writes of a philosophically minded seagull seeking to rise above the flock, which is focused on the dull regimen of finding food scraps. Jonathan is banished from the group only to come upon more enlightened gulls who guide him to spiritual lessons, which Jonathan then imparts to others.
The short, simply crafted book gained little to no critical attention upon publication, but rose to No. 1 for several weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and Bach quickly drew a loyal following.
In 1973, the book was turned into a movie, "Jonathan Livingston Seagull," produced by Paramount Pictures. The movie included a soundtrack by Neil Diamond.
Bach, who claims to be a direct descendant of Johann Sebastian Bach, has been a pilot for his adult life, often touching on his experience in the cockpit of his beloved plane in his writings.
Besides "Seagull," his other popular works include "Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah," a mystical story of a Midwestern barnstorming pilot's quest for self-discovery.
He often links the practice of flying to themes of a deeper spiritual quest.
"Dad described his religion as flying. He's a very avid aviator," James Bach said. "It would be terrible if he recovers and can't fly again - this guy needs to fly."
At the time of the crash, he was flying a 2008 Easton Gilbert G SEAREY aircraft that he nicknamed "Puff."
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash.
I really liked 'One'. Quite a few more than 10,000 words as I recall. I was probably a much nicer person for a while after reading it; and being the case that I still think about his stuff now and again, I'd say that he likely did me some lasting good in life. A lot more than I can say about the vast majority of authors I've read. This guy has a real philosophical outlook on life, or so it seems to me from his writing.Â
I hope he gets better, I love Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Illusions was pretty good too.
Looks like a pretty cheap plane.
 @Klondiko On what do you base your value judgment? A simple four-place airplane costs a half a million bucks these days. Amphibs are more expensive than simple wheel planes.
Get well, Mr. Bach!
Hope you have a quick recovery, Mr. Bach! You'll be back in the air in no time.
âThis is a test to see if your mission in this life is complete, if you are alive, it isn't.â â Richard Bach, Illusions
The guy lives in an airplane from all I have gathered across the years.
Â
I liked JLS, I read it when I was 10 or so, and it altered my approach to books, and gave me cause to read in earnest. Speedy recovery and back in the air soon I hope. I mean seriously,
Â
This is Jonathan we are talking about!
I never read Jonathan but I have read (and own) many other books written by Mr. Bach. Quite an author and in many ways he reminds me of myself. I am also hoping for a speedy recovery.
I loved that book! : ( I'm hoping for a speedy recovery Mr. Bach.
I remember the book well, from my childhood. I wish Mr. Bach, a speedy recovery.