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14 NW MOUNTAIN NW MOUNTAIN REGION REGION A rough-running engine over the mountainous terrain of southwest Washington quickly turned into an emergency for the pilot of N89877, Seattle Center (ZSE) controllers Nick Meyer and Jordan Baldwin relied on teamwork, experience, and calm decision-making to guide the aircraft safely to the ground. On Jan. 11, 2026, Meyer was working combined sectors covering southwest Washington and northwest Oregon when an aircraft, N89877, caught his attention. The pilot, who Meyer believed was a student, requested a change in destination before reporting a rough- running engine. "My Spidey senses were going," Meyer recalled. "I just asked them, 'What is going on? Is there any assistance you need?'" The pilot's response confirmed Meyer's concerns. Unsure of what to do and surrounded by unforgiving, mountainous terrain, the pilot repeatedly questioned whether N89877 would make it to an airport. Drawing on his background as a flight instructor, Meyer calmly identified landing options, guided the pilot through a simplified emergency checklist, and continually encouraged the pilot to keep flying the airplane. "I just kept assuring him," Meyer said. "'Keep flying towards the coast. You are doing a good job. Stay at best glide. I think you are still high enough. Keep going.'" While Meyer remained focused on the distressed pilot, Manual or D-side controller Baldwin became Meyer's primary source of support. She coordinated with surrounding facilities, relayed information to supervisors, and gathered airport and runway information, so he could devote focus entirely on the pilot. "She was great," Meyer said. "She was also good about encouraging me a couple times. She said, 'You're doing a good job. Keep going, keep going.' It was critical to know I had the backup there from my coworker." As the aircraft descended toward Newport, Ore., knowing radar and radio coverage would likely be lost below 2,000 feet, Meyer asked another pilot flying along the coast to relay weather information Jordan Baldwin Seattle ARTCC ZSE Nick Meyer Seattle ARTCC ZSE Jordan Baldwin Nick Meyer

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