On 12/7/67 this Republic F-105D #61-0059 USAF crashed in the mountains south of Lake Isabella in Sequoia Nat’l Forest following a malfunction. The pilot was able the eject safely landing 1.2 miles from the crash site.

From the crash report, History of Flight: The flight, consisting of two F-105 aircraft, call signs Slasher One, piloted by Major William S. Koenitzer, FV3035160, flight leader/instructor pilot, 560th Tactical Fighter Squadron; and Slasher Two, flown by Major Robert F. Delaney, FV3039947, pilot trainee, 560th Tactical Fighter Squadron, was cleared on a VFR flight plan from George AFB to Special Operating Area Number One (SOA-1). Takeoff from George was accomplished at 1155 hours on 7 Dec 67. The flight proceeded uneventfully to SOA-1, the training area to be used for the mission. Upon arrival in the area at 28,000 feet MSL, Major Koenitzar directed Major Delaney to an in-trail formation and proceeded to demonstrate a diving spiral followed by a high “G” barrel roll underneath. The flight then climbed back up to 25,000 feet at which time Major Delaney was placed in the lead position and instructed to execute a diving spiral followed by a high “G” roll underneath. This maneuver was accomplished to the left. Upon completion, Major Koenitzar directed Major Delaney to repeat the maneuvers. The flight still lead by Major Delaney, executed a low “G” climbing 360-degree turn to the right to reposition in the training area. At approximately 22,000 feet MSL, Major Delaney initiated the maneuvers again, this time to the right. The attempted high “G” barrel roll underneath culminated in a nose high flat spin, or spiral, from which recovery was not effected. Major Delaney ejected from the aircraft at an estimated altitude between 11,000 and 14,000 feet MSL. Egress systems and equipment functioned normally. The aircraft has not been located at the of this writing due to the rough terrain and snow cover; however, the impact area is expected to be within a ten-nautical-mile radius of coordinates 35o26’N/118o21’W, a mountainous area approximately 35 miles west, southwest from China Lake Naval Air Station, California.

I was lucky to have Tom Gossett give me the location of this site. It's is the best crash site I've visited and never would have found it on my own.

Photo of #61-0059 taken at McConnell AFB in November 1967, one month before it crashed.

Driving on a dirt road headed for the Piute Mountains in the Sequoia National Forest.

A short time after entering the Sequoia National Forest I came upon a few cows by the side of the road.

Some of the trees in the area still had their fall colors.

This is where the hike to the F-105 started from.

The area was thick with trees.

Know I'm close to the crash site, but it's hard to see further than 50 feet through the trees.

After looking around for a while, I started finding pieces the the plane. Always feels good to find that first piece. The rest must be near by.

The piece had a small light with a broken lens on it.