Washington's Only Fatal Plane Crash

Washington Township has had only one known fatal plane crash in its history.

On June 26, 1964, Oliver Twist and Gerald Ebinger flew the 65 HP Taylorcraft L2M plane owned jointly with Robert Rentfro.  After flying around the area for most of the early afternoon, the aircraft went into a spin and crashed on the Lester Keil farm on Hollands Grove Road.

Twist, a Navy pilot from 1941 to 1944 and pilot of the plane, was killed instantly.  Ebinger, alive when reached by nearby residents, died shortly after.  

Gerald Ebinger was a 32-year-old Washington farmer who belonged to the Taylor Lodge and Hopewell Grange. He left behind his wife, Ludell, and children, Douglas, Nancy, and Linda.

Oliver Twist was also a Washington farmer and a Caterpillar employee. He was 38 years old and survived by his wife Violet and children Matthew, Milo, and Robert. Twist was actively involved in the Washington Christian Church when he died.

An inquest was held to determine the cause of the deaths and the cause of the crash.  Both men died from shock from multiple fractures and internal injuries.  Individuals testified that the plane had flown several flights that day and had passed a perfect inspection about a month before the crash.  Eyewitnesses to the crash testified that the plane was silent moments before.  At the same time, a Civil Aeronautics investigator thought that the engine was probably running at the time of the crash based on the instrument readings.  Ultimately, the engine's status and the cause of the crash remain unanswered.