Clark Mountain Range Navion NC4345 3/7/08

On March 2, 1951 a married couple was killed when their rented Navion NC4345 crashed in a snow storm on a flight from Las Vegas, Nevada to Santa Monica, California. The wreckage was discover ...

2009-08-22T10:11:59Z

Joe Idoni
On March 2, 1951 a married couple was killed when their rented Navion NC4345 crashed in a snow storm on a flight from Las Vegas, Nevada to Santa Monica, California. The wreckage was discover ...

After driving on a lot of dirt roads, I made it to the start of the hike.

2009-03-22T02:32:57Z

Joe Idoni
After driving on a lot of dirt roads, I made it to the start of the hike.

Looking down at the clearing where my truck is parked as I hike up.

2009-03-22T02:30:13Z

Joe Idoni
Looking down at the clearing where my truck is parked as I hike up.

After hiking for awhile, I looked up and saw something shine on the slope, airplane, balloon???

2009-03-22T02:33:39Z

Joe Idoni
After hiking for awhile, I looked up and saw something shine on the slope, airplane, balloon???

Using the binoculars I could tell that it was the wreckage of an aircraft.

2009-03-22T02:33:52Z

Joe Idoni
Using the binoculars I could tell that it was the wreckage of an aircraft.

My first close view of the crash site. I was able to keep an eye on the wreckage untill I got about 400 feet from it. Took me over half hour to find it after I lost sight of it. The trees an ...

2009-03-22T02:33:52Z

Joe Idoni
My first close view of the crash site. I was able to keep an eye on the wreckage untill I got about 400 feet from it. Took me over half hour to find it after I lost sight of it. The trees an ...

The fuselage. Most of the horizontal stab was there, looked like the fin and rudder were removed. Was surprised to find the fuselage in good shape after crashing on such a steep slope.

2009-03-22T02:33:52Z

Joe Idoni
The fuselage. Most of the horizontal stab was there, looked like the fin and rudder were removed. Was surprised to find the fuselage in good shape after crashing on such a steep slope.

The part leaning up agaist the stab is one of the fuel tanks.

2009-03-22T02:33:52Z

Joe Idoni
The part leaning up agaist the stab is one of the fuel tanks.

The engine was missing.

2009-03-22T02:33:52Z

Joe Idoni
The engine was missing.

The frame to the rear seat was still in the cockpit.

2009-03-22T02:33:52Z

Joe Idoni
The frame to the rear seat was still in the cockpit.

View of the tail.

2009-03-22T02:33:52Z

Joe Idoni
View of the tail.

Looks like someone cut into the fuselage to remove parts. Most of the mechanical parts were removed from the aircraft.

2009-03-22T02:33:52Z

Joe Idoni
Looks like someone cut into the fuselage to remove parts. Most of the mechanical parts were removed from the aircraft.

This shot shows how steep the slope is. The rocks were really loose, it was hard to stand on them without sliding down the slope.

2009-03-22T02:33:52Z

Joe Idoni
This shot shows how steep the slope is. The rocks were really loose, it was hard to stand on them without sliding down the slope.

Me with the fuselage.

2009-03-22T02:33:52Z

Joe Idoni
Me with the fuselage.

Tail end view of the stab showing the elevators.

2009-03-22T02:33:52Z

Joe Idoni
Tail end view of the stab showing the elevators.

Closer look at the elevators and trim tabs.

2009-03-22T02:33:52Z

Joe Idoni
Closer look at the elevators and trim tabs.

The Navion had a large sliding canopy. Decided to climb inside and see if there was anything of interest there. When I grabbed the edge of the fuselage to climb in, the whole thing slid down ...

2009-03-22T02:33:52Z

Joe Idoni
The Navion had a large sliding canopy. Decided to climb inside and see if there was anything of interest there. When I grabbed the edge of the fuselage to climb in, the whole thing slid down ...

Inside I found a piece of the instrument panel.

2009-03-22T02:33:52Z

Joe Idoni
Inside I found a piece of the instrument panel.

On the left were the controls for the landing gear, flaps and trim.

2009-03-22T02:33:52Z

Joe Idoni
On the left were the controls for the landing gear, flaps and trim.

Middle had crab heat and fuel mixture.

2009-03-22T02:33:52Z

Joe Idoni
Middle had crab heat and fuel mixture.

There was even a lighter.

2009-03-22T02:33:52Z

Joe Idoni
There was even a lighter.

This is one of the few small pieces of wreakage at the site.

2009-03-22T02:33:52Z

Joe Idoni
This is one of the few small pieces of wreakage at the site.

About 25 feet above the fuselage was most of the wing. It's upside down with half of the left wing torn off.

2009-03-22T02:33:52Z

Joe Idoni
About 25 feet above the fuselage was most of the wing. It's upside down with half of the left wing torn off.

Could see the part of registration number "NC4".

2009-03-22T02:33:52Z

Joe Idoni
Could see the part of registration number "NC4".

Looking down on the fuselage from the wing.

2009-03-22T02:33:52Z

Joe Idoni
Looking down on the fuselage from the wing.

Looking up the right wing from midspan.

2009-03-22T02:33:52Z

Joe Idoni
Looking up the right wing from midspan.

Climbed above the wing to get a shot of the wing and fuselage together, but couldn't find a good angle due to the trees and steep loose slope.

2009-03-22T02:34:43Z

Joe Idoni
Climbed above the wing to get a shot of the wing and fuselage together, but couldn't find a good angle due to the trees and steep loose slope.

A piece a the right aileron.

2009-03-22T02:35:11Z

Joe Idoni
A piece a the right aileron.

Another view of the aileron. While taking this shot, I noticed the registration number underneath which is the top of the wing.

2009-03-22T02:35:11Z

Joe Idoni
Another view of the aileron. While taking this shot, I noticed the registration number underneath which is the top of the wing.

I couldn't fit my head under the wing to see the number, so I held the camera under and took ten shots hoping to get the nubmer. This shot shows the "NC".

2009-03-22T02:35:11Z

Joe Idoni
I couldn't fit my head under the wing to see the number, so I held the camera under and took ten shots hoping to get the nubmer. This shot shows the "NC".

This one shows the "43".

2009-03-22T02:35:11Z

Joe Idoni
This one shows the "43".

And the "45", this plane is NC4345.

2009-03-22T02:35:11Z

Joe Idoni
And the "45", this plane is NC4345.

Another view of the aileron showing the fixed trim tab.

2009-03-22T02:35:11Z

Joe Idoni
Another view of the aileron showing the fixed trim tab.

The flap was missing.

2009-03-22T02:35:11Z

Joe Idoni
The flap was missing.

Bottom side of the left wing was ripped open showing some of it's structure.

2009-03-22T02:35:11Z

Joe Idoni
Bottom side of the left wing was ripped open showing some of it's structure.

Center section of the wing.

2009-03-22T02:35:11Z

Joe Idoni
Center section of the wing.

Think this is part of the main spar where it looks like someone at the factory wrote "Left Hand" and "5/32" at the rivets.

2009-03-22T02:35:11Z

Joe Idoni
Think this is part of the main spar where it looks like someone at the factory wrote "Left Hand" and "5/32" at the rivets.

Mounts on the center section. Thinking that they are either for the fuselage or the cockpit floor.

2009-03-22T02:35:11Z

Joe Idoni
Mounts on the center section. Thinking that they are either for the fuselage or the cockpit floor.

Close view of one of the mounts.

2009-03-22T02:35:12Z

Joe Idoni
Close view of one of the mounts.

Looking up at the fuselage as I climb down hoping to find the engine below.

2009-03-22T02:35:12Z

Joe Idoni
Looking up at the fuselage as I climb down hoping to find the engine below.

Found some pieces.

2009-03-22T02:35:12Z

Joe Idoni
Found some pieces.

Looks like a piece from the front of the engine cowling. The circle looks like the opening for the prop shaft and below it remains of the grille.

2009-03-22T02:35:12Z

Joe Idoni
Looks like a piece from the front of the engine cowling. The circle looks like the opening for the prop shaft and below it remains of the grille.

One of the pieces had a navigation light.

2009-03-22T02:35:12Z

Joe Idoni
One of the pieces had a navigation light.

Looking up at the pile of pieces below the fuselage. The slope is getting steeper as I head down.

2009-03-22T02:35:12Z

Joe Idoni
Looking up at the pile of pieces below the fuselage. The slope is getting steeper as I head down.

Can see a little more wreckage below.

2009-03-22T02:35:12Z

Joe Idoni
Can see a little more wreckage below.

It was a piece of sheet metal and this box. This was as far as I climbed down. It was getting to steep and loose for me and I could see it was only getting steeper.

2009-03-22T02:35:12Z

Joe Idoni
It was a piece of sheet metal and this box. This was as far as I climbed down. It was getting to steep and loose for me and I could see it was only getting steeper.

Hiking back down to the truck.

2009-03-22T02:35:12Z

Joe Idoni
Hiking back down to the truck.

All day long airliners were flying overhead leaving great looking contrails. Looks like a 747.

2009-03-22T02:35:12Z

Joe Idoni
All day long airliners were flying overhead leaving great looking contrails. Looks like a 747.

Two more airliners taken from the truck.

2009-03-22T02:35:12Z

Joe Idoni
Two more airliners taken from the truck.

Following a powerline road back to the highway. There is also a Cessna 210 in the area, have an idea where it may be. It's on the list for a future hike. THE END

2009-03-22T02:35:12Z

Joe Idoni
Following a powerline road back to the highway. There is also a Cessna 210 in the area, have an idea where it may be. It's on the list for a future hike. THE END