Retired Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders tragically died in a plane crash near Orcas Island, Washington, while conducting a flyby near a friend's house. The National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report revealed that Anders' plane plummeted into the water after performing a routine flyby, with witnesses observing the descent. The 90-year-old's body was recovered later that day, and investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the crash. Anders, renowned for the 'Earthrise' photo from the Apollo 8 mission, had a history of flybys but never engaged in aerobatic maneuvers. The incident occurred during an 'Orcas Run' flight around the San Juan Islands, leaving limited witnesses to provide details surrounding the crash.