A Haines resident was critically injured when a private plane carrying four people went down in Lynn Canal south of Eldred Rock Wednesday afternoon.

Martha Mackowiak was medevaced to Harborview Medical Center with critical injuries after a Cessna 180 piloted by husband Michael Mackowiak attempted an emergency landing on the east side of Lynn Canal north of Berners Bay around 3 p.m.

The couple’s son Nikolas Mackowiak was also on the plane headed from Juneau to Haines, as was resident Victoria Hansen. Michael, Nik and Victoria were transported to Juneau’s Bartlett Regional Hospital with minor injuries and released.

According to Coast Guard Petty Officer Meredith Manning, Coast Guard District 17 Command Center received a report of a distressed Cessna 180. A radio caller on the plane said the pilot was going to attempt to land on a beach on the east side of the canal, Manning said.

But the plane went down on the water, and the four passengers swam to the beach, Manning said.

The Coast Guard deployed a 45-foot vessel from Juneau and a helicopter from Sitka, and a TEMSCO helicopter also responded, she said.

“They were able to make it to shore, where the two helos landed and transported them,” Manning said.

Responders could not see the airplane in the water, she said.

The TEMSCO helicopter took one of the passengers directly to Bartlett, while the remaining three went by Coast Guard helicopter to the Juneau International Airport.

The plane’s engine apparently died, Manning said.