Girls dreamed of being pilots

It's a school for students interested in aviation. Some go there simply to improve science and math skills for careers in other fields. But a few determined teens, like Brittany Boatright and Kandyce Cowart, take the specialized classes at Aviation High School to launch sky-high dreams.

The two girls were killed along with pilot D. Eugene Hokanson on Saturday when the single-engine plane they were flying in crashed near Paine Field in Everett. The three were taking part in a flight sponsored by the volunteer group Experimental Aircraft Association Young Eagles, which aims to give kids flying experience.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Boatright, 15, and Cowart, 14, saw unlimited potential in the field of aviation, said those who knew them, and were excited to be going on the flight.

According to friends and family members, Cowart wanted to be a pilot and "came alive" when she talked about flying. She attended a flight camp at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake over the summer. She and Boatright were close, spending time talking about planes and sitting next to each other in classes.

Boatright was a gifted student who gave the money from her allowance and doing chores to charity. She admired Amelia Earhart for opening the field of aviation to women. According to her application to Aviation High School, Boatright hoped someday to attend Harvard University and build a spacecraft that would "take pictures and gather information on other planets," in addition to getting her pilot's license.

Saturday, as their families watched at Boeing Field, the two teens climbed into a four-seat Piper 28 flown by Hokanson, of Mercer Island, and took off for Paine Field. A short time later, the plane — co-owned by Hokanson — crashed into a construction site near the Everett airfield.

Witnesses said the plane appeared to lose power.

The cause of the accident is still being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), a process that could take months.

Jim Struhsaker, senior investigator in charge for the NTSB office in SeaTac, said the plane was intended to land at Paine Field and taxi off the runway, at which point students on board would change seats. The plane would then taxi back onto the runway, take off and return to Boeing Field in Seattle, he said. The purpose in switching was to give each student a different vantage point. For whatever reason, the students didn't switch seats, he said.

The girls were part of Young Eagles, a national volunteer group, which has been working with Aviation High School providing free flights to students and pairing them with volunteer pilots. Hokanson, 67, was affiliated with the association.

He ran a Bellevue business called D.E. Hokanson Inc., which sells instruments to detect blood flow and diagnose vascular disease. On May 31, he posted messages on an online bulletin board, discussing with other Piper owners a routine mechanical problem — causing the plane to "shimmy" apparently during takeoff and landing. He indicated the problem was a loose bolt on a strut and that it was fixed.

His son, Arvid Hokanson, said yesterday the family would have no comment because it would be too difficult to talk about his father.

Many students at Aviation High said the tragedy would not keep them from seeking pilot's licenses or continuing their education at the school.

The school started a year ago with 100 students and added another 100 this year. It will continue adding 100 every year until it's a four-year high school, according to plans for the school.

The school is located on the Duwamish campus of South Seattle Community College and is operated by the Highline School District. It is open to any high-school student in King County.

It was created to provide opportunities for students who have an interest in aviation and want special training. Although many do want to become private pilots, a few hope to work for the commercial airlines. Others use the advance training in math and science as a foundation for eventual careers like veterinary science, a school spokeswoman said.

Yesterday, a table in a hallway was filled with mementos of the two teens: stuffed animals, cards for the families, a bouquet of white flowers, photos and journals where students could add their thoughts.

About Boatright, a friend wrote: "I'll save your seat on the bus. I miss you."

About Cowart, another wrote: "This girl was full of spunk. She was so happy and always had a smile."

Principal Reba Gilman called the girls, "very, very bright young women, intellectually curious." The shared grief has brought the school together, she said. "I've never felt as good about being part of a learning community."

Seattle Times staff reporters Brian Alexander and Ashley Bach contributed to this report.

Nancy Bartley: 206-464-8522 or nbartley@seattletimes.com