On 2/3/49 the JRB-4 Expeditor BuNo 90550 USN crashed in the southern Sierras on Owens Peak in bad weather. It's two man crew and five passengers were killed in the accident. The aircraft's wreckage wasn't found till 4/21/49. I believe this aircraft started off as USAAF 44-47224 before going to the USN and becoming 90550.


The JRB-4 was the US Navy's version of the Beech C-45F Expeditor.

Driving in off Hwy 14. This is my first time in this area, surprised how nice it looks.

This is as far as I can drive in. The road is blocked here because of the Wilderness Boundary.

Hiking in on the closed road. Only hikers and horses are permitted past the boundary line.

The road turned into a trail that ended after about a mile, now I'm hiking up a tight canyon.

Looking back down the canyon I been hiking up.

After hiking for about two and half hours I spotted something shining up ahead about hundred yards up the slope. Didn't even need to use the binoculars to tell it was a wing.

First piece I came upon. This one was fairly easy to locate.

Okay, I lost sight of the wing as I approached it. Been hiking around this slope for well over an hour and I can't find it after being so close.

Now I'm up on the ridge looking east across the Mojave Desert. Somehow I climbed past it. The area is steep loose rock with a lot of trees. I was getting really frustrated. Decided to take a break, eat my lunch and calm down before doing anything more.