Death Valley FG-1D Corsair 1/5/08

On June 13, 1947 pilot John C. Webb’s Goodyear FG-1D #92168 developed mechanical problems while on a flight out of Oakland, California. The pilot was forced to bailout with the FG-1 going ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:50:06 -0700

Joe Idoni
On June 13, 1947 pilot John C. Webb’s Goodyear FG-1D #92168 developed mechanical problems while on a flight out of Oakland, California. The pilot was forced to bailout with the FG-1 going ...

The next two photos are copies of the crash report provided by Craig Fuller of AAIR.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 22:20:34 -0800

Joe Idoni
The next two photos are copies of the crash report provided by Craig Fuller of AAIR.

Joe Idoni's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 22:20:35 -0800

Joe Idoni

After hiking for awile, could see wreckage in the bottom of the canyon and scattered on the left slope.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:46:35 -0700

Joe Idoni
After hiking for awile, could see wreckage in the bottom of the canyon and scattered on the left slope.

This is the first piece of wreckage I came upon.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:13 -0800

Joe Idoni
This is the first piece of wreckage I came upon.

A little furter up the canyon there was more.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:14 -0800

Joe Idoni
A little furter up the canyon there was more.

Lot of stuff in this part of the canyon.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:15 -0800

Joe Idoni
Lot of stuff in this part of the canyon.

This piece of wreckage had a linkage attached.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:17 -0800

Joe Idoni
This piece of wreckage had a linkage attached.

The linkage had a part number with the VS prefix. It indicates a Goodyear FG or Chance-Vought F4U.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:18 -0800

Joe Idoni
The linkage had a part number with the VS prefix. It indicates a Goodyear FG or Chance-Vought F4U.

Most of the sheet metal was smashed so badly I had no idea what part of the plane it came from.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:18 -0800

Joe Idoni
Most of the sheet metal was smashed so badly I had no idea what part of the plane it came from.

One of the tires. The other side of the tire was covered with orange paint as was a lot of the wreckage.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:20 -0800

Joe Idoni
One of the tires. The other side of the tire was covered with orange paint as was a lot of the wreckage.

Part of the Firestone name.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:24 -0800

Joe Idoni
Part of the Firestone name.

There was a few empty cans of paint that were used to mark the site.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:25 -0800

Joe Idoni
There was a few empty cans of paint that were used to mark the site.

A pressure bottle.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:25 -0800

Joe Idoni
A pressure bottle.

Up on the slope I could see the engine, which is in the center of the photo.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:26 -0800

Joe Idoni
Up on the slope I could see the engine, which is in the center of the photo.

Looking down on some of the wreckage in the canyon as I head for the engine.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:27 -0800

Joe Idoni
Looking down on some of the wreckage in the canyon as I head for the engine.

View of the engine looking down the canyon I hiked up.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:46:36 -0700

Joe Idoni
View of the engine looking down the canyon I hiked up.

Another view of the Pratt & Whitney R-2800.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:37:49 -0700

Joe Idoni
Another view of the Pratt & Whitney R-2800.

Valve lifters.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:37:50 -0700

Joe Idoni
Valve lifters.

This is one of the most damage engines I've seen at a crash site. The only ones that looked worst were from jets.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:30 -0800

Joe Idoni
This is one of the most damage engines I've seen at a crash site. The only ones that looked worst were from jets.

Closer view shows the crushed cylinders. This plane really went in hard.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:32 -0800

Joe Idoni
Closer view shows the crushed cylinders. This plane really went in hard.

I think that this is the prop hub.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:35 -0800

Joe Idoni
I think that this is the prop hub.

This cylinder was close by. You can see the connecting rod on the left and the piston pin that was pushed through the side of the cylinder from the impact.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:37:52 -0700

Joe Idoni
This cylinder was close by. You can see the connecting rod on the left and the piston pin that was pushed through the side of the cylinder from the impact.

Close up of the piston pin.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:38 -0800

Joe Idoni
Close up of the piston pin.

An exhaust valve. Smashed valve seat is in the bottom of photo.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:36 -0800

Joe Idoni
An exhaust valve. Smashed valve seat is in the bottom of photo.

An intake valve with the valve seat.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:39 -0800

Joe Idoni
An intake valve with the valve seat.

Near the top of the slope there was a lot of stuff scattered around. Looks like this might be the impact area.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:46:34 -0700

Joe Idoni
Near the top of the slope there was a lot of stuff scattered around. Looks like this might be the impact area.

Smashed pressure bottle.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:41 -0800

Joe Idoni
Smashed pressure bottle.

Piece of armor plate.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:37:47 -0700

Joe Idoni
Piece of armor plate.

Another intake valve.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:42 -0800

Joe Idoni
Another intake valve.

This five foot long insulated braided hose was passed through what looked like bulkheads.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:43 -0800

Joe Idoni
This five foot long insulated braided hose was passed through what looked like bulkheads.

A latch.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:37:48 -0700

Joe Idoni
A latch.

A small control cable pulley on one of the pieces.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:44 -0800

Joe Idoni
A small control cable pulley on one of the pieces.

Hose fitting.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:45 -0800

Joe Idoni
Hose fitting.

This piece had wood inside it.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:37:53 -0700

Joe Idoni
This piece had wood inside it.

This was a heavy cast aluminum piece.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:45 -0800

Joe Idoni
This was a heavy cast aluminum piece.

The part number with the VS prefix on the same piece. Also found a few more pieces with the VS prefix.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:46 -0800

Joe Idoni
The part number with the VS prefix on the same piece. Also found a few more pieces with the VS prefix.

Found an ID plate. The part covered by my thumb reads, 'DESIGN BY CHANCE VOUGHT AIRCRAFT'.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:37:52 -0700

Joe Idoni
Found an ID plate. The part covered by my thumb reads, 'DESIGN BY CHANCE VOUGHT AIRCRAFT'.

Rocker arm.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:47 -0800

Joe Idoni
Rocker arm.

Pieces of the airframe.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:48 -0800

Joe Idoni
Pieces of the airframe.

Think that this might be the tip of one of the elevators.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:49 -0800

Joe Idoni
Think that this might be the tip of one of the elevators.

Looks like a part from the engine.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:50 -0800

Joe Idoni
Looks like a part from the engine.

Figure that about 20% of the FG-1 remains at the site.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:51 -0800

Joe Idoni
Figure that about 20% of the FG-1 remains at the site.

Parts from the landing gear.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:53 -0800

Joe Idoni
Parts from the landing gear.

Another part of the landing gear.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:55 -0800

Joe Idoni
Another part of the landing gear.

Engine cylinder still attached to a piece of the crankcase. A piece of a connecting rod is in the lower left corner of photo.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:56 -0800

Joe Idoni
Engine cylinder still attached to a piece of the crankcase. A piece of a connecting rod is in the lower left corner of photo.

Another part of the landing gear.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:58 -0800

Joe Idoni
Another part of the landing gear.

While hiking back to the truck, I found this intake valve about a hundred yards from the rest of the wreckage.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:10:59 -0800

Joe Idoni
While hiking back to the truck, I found this intake valve about a hundred yards from the rest of the wreckage.

Driving back out to the Hwy. This site turned out to be more interesting than I expected. THE END

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:11:00 -0800

Joe Idoni
Driving back out to the Hwy. This site turned out to be more interesting than I expected. THE END