On 8/18/58, the F-100D Super Sabre #56-3089 crashed on the cliffs in Death Valley while on a routine training mission. The pilot was able to eject safely landing near the Furnace Creek Inn. Great site with the total aircraft scattered from 1,800’ to 700' msl from the impact on the cliff face. Engine and 20mm cannons still at site. This is my favorite crash site hike due to the climbing, great views and all the wreckage that remains.
History Of Flight: F-100D, 56-3089, pilot Phillips, was number three of a four ship flight which was scheduled for a gunnery mission at George AFB on 18 August 1958. Flight call sign was Armstrong Delta and assembled for briefing at 0900 PDT. The briefing which included emergency procedures and the local emergency landing areas, was concluded at 1000 PDT. The flight was cleared on AF Form 113 in the George AFB local area an ETE of one hour with one hour and thirty minutes of fuel aboard. The weather was 6500 feet scattered and 15 miles visibility. The walk around inspection of the aircraft was normal and revealed no discrepancies. The flight was airborne at 1040 PDT with take off accomplished by elements of two and the flight proceeded to the designated area where it broke up into two ship elements with Delta 3 leading the second element. The ensuing mission was normal in all respects until approximately 1115 PDT when Delta 3 experienced an inadvertent afterburner light while performing a chandelle. The throttle was retarded and afterburner went out. The throttle was again advanced and the afterburner did not light even though the throttle was placed in the outboard (afterburner) position. The element then turned to the heading for the return to base and Delta 3 elected to fall behind his wing man where he could further check his captive missile monitor control. When the throttle was retarded to the idle position, it remained stuck despite all attempts of the pilot to advance throttle. Delta 4 was notified of the emergency and GCI was contacted, informed of the emergency, and a request was made for possible landing areas. It was determined that no suitable landing area was available to Delta 3 with an idle power setting of approximately 65% RPM and the glide was continued with the pilot further attempting to break the throttle loose by leverage with a screw-driver. During this attempt Delta 3 lost communications contact with GCI and his wing man who also lost visual contact with Delta 3 during a 360 degree turn. At approximately 14,000 feet MSL, Delta 3 elected to bailout. An attempt was made this time to stopcook the throttle but was found to defy all efforts to move it past the idle stop. The pilot then proceeded to accomplish pre-ejection procedures and successfully ejected at 1125 PDT at an altitude of 13,000 feet. The pilot landed uninjured on the western side of Death Valley, California, about 30 miles south of Furnace Creek at an altitude of 244 feet below sea level. The aircraft crashed on the western face of the Funeral Mountains at an altitude of 1,800 feet MSL. The pilot was picked up about 1530 PDT by Park Rangers who had been attracted by a signal fire set by the pilot.
(Click on photos for a larger view.)
History Of Flight: F-100D, 56-3089, pilot Phillips, was number three of a four ship flight which was scheduled for a gunnery mission at George AFB on 18 August 1958. Flight call sign was Armstrong Delta and assembled for briefing at 0900 PDT. The briefing which included emergency procedures and the local emergency landing areas, was concluded at 1000 PDT. The flight was cleared on AF Form 113 in the George AFB local area an ETE of one hour with one hour and thirty minutes of fuel aboard. The weather was 6500 feet scattered and 15 miles visibility. The walk around inspection of the aircraft was normal and revealed no discrepancies. The flight was airborne at 1040 PDT with take off accomplished by elements of two and the flight proceeded to the designated area where it broke up into two ship elements with Delta 3 leading the second element. The ensuing mission was normal in all respects until approximately 1115 PDT when Delta 3 experienced an inadvertent afterburner light while performing a chandelle. The throttle was retarded and afterburner went out. The throttle was again advanced and the afterburner did not light even though the throttle was placed in the outboard (afterburner) position. The element then turned to the heading for the return to base and Delta 3 elected to fall behind his wing man where he could further check his captive missile monitor control. When the throttle was retarded to the idle position, it remained stuck despite all attempts of the pilot to advance throttle. Delta 4 was notified of the emergency and GCI was contacted, informed of the emergency, and a request was made for possible landing areas. It was determined that no suitable landing area was available to Delta 3 with an idle power setting of approximately 65% RPM and the glide was continued with the pilot further attempting to break the throttle loose by leverage with a screw-driver. During this attempt Delta 3 lost communications contact with GCI and his wing man who also lost visual contact with Delta 3 during a 360 degree turn. At approximately 14,000 feet MSL, Delta 3 elected to bailout. An attempt was made this time to stopcook the throttle but was found to defy all efforts to move it past the idle stop. The pilot then proceeded to accomplish pre-ejection procedures and successfully ejected at 1125 PDT at an altitude of 13,000 feet. The pilot landed uninjured on the western side of Death Valley, California, about 30 miles south of Furnace Creek at an altitude of 244 feet below sea level. The aircraft crashed on the western face of the Funeral Mountains at an altitude of 1,800 feet MSL. The pilot was picked up about 1530 PDT by Park Rangers who had been attracted by a signal fire set by the pilot.
(Click on photos for a larger view.)
Drawing from the crash report showing how some of the wreckage is scattered on the cliffs.
Driving down into Death Valley on Hwy 190 after spending the night at Towne Pass. I decided to try and find a F-100 crash site that I heard was on the cliffs in the valley. With a little info and high hopes I set off.
After half an hour of searching with the binoculars I thought that I might have spotted a part of the plane. The hike is on! This spot was the start of the hike, it's at 250' below sea level.
Almost to the start of the climbing. I had a feeling this was going to be a hard hike. Even on this first section it was mostly loose rock. By the time it was over, I lost some skin and blood but it was worth it.
Looking back at my truck as I start climbing. Telescope Peak in the distance.
Looking to the north up the valley.
Stopped here for a snack break after a difficult climbing section.
Looking up to the piece I spotted from to road in the center of the photo. As hard as it looked at times, I was able to keep going with little back tracking.
After climbing about 700', I found this small piece of titanium. The first piece of wreckage.
