Wreckchasing Message Board

A fresh wreckchase

canyonair — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:53:11 GMT

As most of you know, we recently experienced a mid-air collision involving two EMS Helicopters here in Flagstaff. The collision happened about four miles from my house and from a phone call, I learned that the pilot of one of the copters was a friend of mine that I flew with at the Grand Canyon years ago.

I really try not to go to recent (fresh) crash sites but when I heard that the site was re-opened to the public and a police spokesman said that wreckage may still be found in the area, I felt compelled to go take a look and see if I could help. Armed with my Garmin GPS, camera, cell phone, and a pad of paper I set out for the site on Switzer Mesa.

I wasn't in the forest more than 10 minutes when I found my first helicopter rotor fragment. Further searching along the mesa revealed additional helicopter rotor fragments, component data plates, and a copy of a performance sheet with notations possibly made by a pilot. I recorded the GPS location of each fragment, photographed, and documented the information on the notepad. I made a call to the police and within minutes an officer was there to retrieve the material. I gave him so much information about each fragment that he asked which agency I was with! I just told I was a local wreckchaser with a personal interest in the accident.

For those interested, here is the story of the accident and a link to the photos I took at the site.

http://lostflights.smugmug.com/gallery/5330156_5x9Wh

One thing leads to another....

Searchmaster — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 11:44:16 GMT

In todays' paper the On This Day section had a snippet from 75 years ago concerning an around the world aviator lost between Siberia and Nome Alaska. Local flyers were out looking for him as he had not been heard from for a month. A web search for pilot James Mattern led me to this link as he had flown his Lockheed Vega into this airport. So naturally I had to lose an hour or two checking out the various planes that passed through. I'm starting to think that all the time I have saved being able to google stuff instead of the old fashioned research legwork is totally eaten up by the millions of 'attractive nuisance' distractions I come across and get sidetracked or derailed by.

Anyways, I found it interesting because I wonder if his Vega is still out on the tundra of Siberia.

http://www.dmairfield.com/airplanes/NC869E/index.html

http://www.dmairfield.com/airplanes.php

MIA B-26 found in Gulf of Mexico

AAIR — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:05:28 GMT

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080705/NEWS01/80704031/1002

At the lower right there is also a slide show with 29 pictures.

Two downed P-51s Hong Kong

ThomasPolgar — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:34:54 GMT

I am looking for any information regarding two P-51 aircraft that were shot down near Stanley Village on Hong Kong Island near the very end of the Pacific conflict. In addition any information in general on US aircraft that went down on land in Hong Kong would be much appreciated. I am also willing potentially hire a researcher to work on this question for me. I have found various US databases somewhat unfriendly to use seem not to code Hong Kong as a location. My ultimate aim are coordinates or aerial photos of the downed aircraft to lead to locations. Many thanks, Thomas Polgar.

Happy 4th

JoeWilliams — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 01:58:15 GMT

To everyone, don't let a black cat go off in your hand...( man that hurts )

Joe

C-46A #41-12363

sgbofav — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:42:30 GMT

(06/25/44) Curtiss C-46A #41-12363 of USAAF hit Pleasant View Ridge during a winter snow storm, killing all four crewman. This plane has rested on the mountainside for 63 years.

I'm looking for a more detailed report of this crash site. I was thinking of bringing a plaque to the location of the tail section. I was hoping to find names of the servicemen who died.

I've visited the site once before and documented as much wreckage as I could find.

I'm assuming that the majority if the wreckage was buried on the talus / scree that gets pushed down the mountain. The area does get hit by avalanches, I saw the destruction first hand.

Here are links to my pictures of the site.

Debris 1

Debris 2

Wing

Wing 2

Manifold

Unknown part 1

Unknown part 2

Strut?

Tail Section

I went wreckchasing today!!

bugazon — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:42:58 GMT

Well today I wore my all-terrain shoes and went out to enjoy my day. I stumbled upon a site in which I had no idea was there. It was a nice sunny day in a open field then before my eyes , I stumbled on this site. With a little asking around I found that the pilot came out without a scratch which was amazing since the wreck was obliterated. I also noticed he didn't eject either. It was amazing. The crash occured at low altitude when the plane went into the verticle and lost power so it augered in nose first to the ground. So I took some photos of what I saw.

This is waht I walked up on...
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q96/bugazon/hobbies/crash4.jpg

Then i was able to get a closer look
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q96/bugazon/hobbies/crash2.jpg

And the pilot in dismay
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q96/bugazon/hobbies/crash5.jpg

I hope you enjoyed a little humor on a Sunday afternoon.....and yes, the pilot was me.

WW2 RAAF Hudson found in PNG.

10tweaker — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 14:52:23 GMT

Got an email about this and thought I'd pass it along.

Jim

This is a media release about Hudson A16-126.

Minister for Defence Media Mail List
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

Sunday, 29 June 2008 082/2008

A RAAF Hudson bomber, lost in a remote region of Papua New Guinea (PNG) during WWII, has been confirmed found today.

The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP said the plane, A16-126, was part of a formation of three RAAF Hudson bombers which attacked Japanese shipping at Gasmata harbour, New Britain, PNG on the 11 February 1942.

"Over the target, the RAAF bombers were intercepted by Japanese fighters which had scrambled from Gasmata airfield. A16-126 was listed as 'lost by enemy action,'" said Mr Snowdon.

"Now, 66 years after it went missing, the plane has been located in thick jungle on a ridge inland from the town of Gasmata.

Four men were lost with the aircraft. They were Flying Officer Graham Ian Gibson, Pilot Officer Frank Leslie Oliver Thorn, Sergeant Barton Irving Coutie, and Sergeant Arthur Edward Quail.

Originally located last month by Mark Reichman a missionary on New Britain, an Air Force team has now conducted a reconnaissance of the aircraft and it's surrounds, and found the bomber in several large pieces with the cockpit lying upside down and partially buried in mud. Bullet holes were also identified in the tail section. Cannon shells were located in their original clips, no bombs were found.

"Following this confirmation, Air Force will now begin planning a full recovery operation with the assistance of the PNG Government. A team including forensic specialists will deploy to conduct a thorough examination of the site. This involves dividing the area into grid squares and conducting a detailed search for any trace of human remains, personal artefacts and military items.

"It is to be hoped this investigation will finally account for these four lost brave airmen.

Air Force has contacted relatives of three of the four crew members of the aircraft but continues trying to locate relatives of Sergeant Arthur Edward Quail (Service number A404748) who was from Biloela, Queensland.

People with information should contact the Defence Public Inquiry line on
02 6265 2999.

Media contacts:
Kate Sieper (Warren Snowdon):
02 6277 7620 or 0488 484 689
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664

Alaska Wreck site

Goldy — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 04:49:37 GMT

Hey maybe Check Six knows this one. I saw it tonite on a Huell Howser Alaska special. They visited the site of a Alaska National Guard Plane. Looked like the tail number was ANG 0-3400.

Anyway, it was pretty intact and looked like something out of the 50-60's.

Goldy

Largest missing acft.

Neal — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:09:58 GMT

Trying desperately to stay awake the other night on a flight, I guided the conversation away from trying to write down all the US states (48, forgot Indiana and Mass) to airplanes. We were trying to think of the largest unfound aircraft in North America. I remember reading about a NWA plane going missing in the great lakes region many decades ago. Also brought up the A10 that went missing about a decade ago or so. Suicide suspected.

Any takers?

Charlie Jacot

ScottKoen — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:13:29 GMT

Its funny how life sometimes goes in circles, I have been a wreck chaser for 22 years. I first started when I worked at the Intrepid Museum and went to the NY Public Library to do research on downed aircraft. I have always been interested in wrecks (of any kind). Through my first search I found a AT-6 Texan from a CASU unit that crashed on Prescot Hill, 4 miles from where I lived in Wingdale NY, not that I was the first on the site. From there I got the bug.

I had always thought that my Uncle died during a parachute accident in South Carolina in 1943 until my mother told me that he was a crewmember of a B-26. I thought, Gee, where could I get information? Duh. I got out my copy of Fatal Army Air Forces Accidents and there he was, someone I never got the chance to know, but he died serving our country.

Thank you Uncle Charlie!

PFC. Charles E. Jacot

B-26 Flight Engineer

November 1, 1942. MacDill Field, Florida.
At 10:45 EWT, A Martin B-26 returning from a local transition flight crashed while attempting a landing at MacDill Field, Tampa, Florida, killing a crew of six. The Accident Classification Committee stated, because of trouble with the left engine, the pilot called the control tower and asked for an emergency landing. In attempting to land the pilot made a steep left hand turn very close to the field. He passed the north end of the north south runway, going in a southerly direction at an altitude of 300 feet. Upon reaching the center of the field the wheels were retracted and full power was applied in an attempt to go around. The left engine failed and with full power applied to the right, the aircraft went into a steep climbing turn to the left, rolled over (to inverted) and struck the ground in a near vertical position. Upon contacting the ground the aircraft caught fire immediately. The pilot erred in that he overshot the runway and attempted to go round knowing that he had a partial failure of the left engine. The cause of the left engine failure is undetermined as the airplane was totally destroyed by the impact and resulting fire. Killed in the crash were 2lt, William E. Kyle, Pilot/B-26 student, 1lt, William D. Malasky, Co-Pilot/B-26 Instructor, Pfc., Charles E. Jacot, Flight Engineer, Pvt. Edmund Rohr, Radio operator, Pvt. Harold W. Keebaugh, passenger, Pvt., Richard B. Rugger, passenger

plane crash gas station

DaveTrojan — Thur, 26 Jun 2008 16:53:22 GMT

Caruthers, California Plane Crash Gas Station

Just south of Fresno, is the Quick Stop Minimart (which used to be called the AirGas in the '50s). Atop the center pump island is a WWII era fighter plane nose down. Now since bypassed by the new highway, it stands as an odd reminder of just how far businesess will go to capture tourist dollars...
Has anyone been there lately?

P-47 Crash Info Source

NickV — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:23:26 GMT

I stumbled upon a listing of P-47s by serial number, model, fighter group, fighter squadron, fuselage code, and notes. The goldmine is in the notes as it often gives the pilot's name, crash location, date, MACR (if applicable). A quick rundown of the states seen include (in random order): Texas, Louisiana, Idaho, Michigan, Connecticut, Ohio, Maryland, and Nebraska. It also gives crash locales for combat losses. There is also a listing of MACRs by number, then serial, squadron, date of crash, and pilot's name.

The site is in French, but you can figure it out or have Google translate the pages for you:

http://pagesperso-orange.fr/p-47.database/index.html

Excluding Craig Fuller's AAIR database and the VPNavy listings, does anyone know of any pages like this for other aircraft types?

Check it out.

Missing Hawaii tour plane found

DaveTrojan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 03:51:35 GMT

Even with all available resources it still took 5 days to find a small plane on the Big Island of Hawaii. The jungle sure can hide aircraft.
DaveT
HILO, Hawai'i A conservation crew camping and working in an isolated area of Ka'u last week gave the Big Island Fire Department the tip it needed to solve the five-day mystery of a missing tour plane, and helped guide a helicopter rescue crew to the wreckage and three bodies early yesterday morning in a thick hapu'u forest on the southeastern slope of Mauna Loa volcano.Rescue crews had been searching since early afternoon on Tuesday for an Island Hoppers tour company Cessna 172. The Island Hoppers tour flight failed to return from what was supposed to be a 2 1/2-hour tour flight traveling clockwise around the Big Island from Kona. The flight was last seen over the shoreline where lava from Kilauea volcano enters the ocean, but never returned to the Kona airport. read more at link: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080623/NEWS01/806230342&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

Crash Report Info Question

TimApNy — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 02:42:32 GMT

I have a report on a B-17 crash that states the crash site is 27 miles NE of a location and on a 5500 Mountain. But there are no 5500ft Mountains in that area (several miles northeast of that area are some peaks match that height). Has anyone found that the Mileage and references to have a large degree of error in them in other reports?

Tim