Mountain Pass Beech C-45 12/14/07

This Beechcraft TC-45G #51-11531 crashed on 1/20/57 near the California/Nevada border in bad weather while on a flight from March AFB to Nellis AFB. All three of the crew members were killed ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:28:30 -0700

Joe Idoni
This Beechcraft TC-45G #51-11531 crashed on 1/20/57 near the California/Nevada border in bad weather while on a flight from March AFB to Nellis AFB. All three of the crew members were killed ...

I knew the location of the crash site, but missed the road to it. After over shooting it, I used dirt roads to get back to the area then drove under the highway here to get to the strating p ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:52:23 -0700

Joe Idoni
I knew the location of the crash site, but missed the road to it. After over shooting it, I used dirt roads to get back to the area then drove under the highway here to get to the strating p ...

After the slight detour, I'm hiking up the slope towards the site. I've seen a few photos of it, but really have no idea of what remains of the C-45's wreckage.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:52:24 -0700

Joe Idoni
After the slight detour, I'm hiking up the slope towards the site. I've seen a few photos of it, but really have no idea of what remains of the C-45's wreckage.

The first piece of wreckage I came arcoss was this tubing. Maybe from one of the engines intake???

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:52:25 -0700

Joe Idoni
The first piece of wreckage I came arcoss was this tubing. Maybe from one of the engines intake???

As I hiked on starting find a lot more pieces.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:52:27 -0700

Joe Idoni
As I hiked on starting find a lot more pieces.

This piece of tubing was interesting. It has another piece of tubing wired to it with six lock wire ties. Maybe to protect it from abrasion.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:52:29 -0700

Joe Idoni
This piece of tubing was interesting. It has another piece of tubing wired to it with six lock wire ties. Maybe to protect it from abrasion.

This piece has what looks like a scoop. Think it's from the wing's leading edge.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:52:31 -0700

Joe Idoni
This piece has what looks like a scoop. Think it's from the wing's leading edge.

Small door with a hinge and linkage.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:52:36 -0700

Joe Idoni
Small door with a hinge and linkage.

Looking up I saw a lot of wreckage up against this tree.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:52:38 -0700

Joe Idoni
Looking up I saw a lot of wreckage up against this tree.

Looking down on the wreckage pile. A lot of it turned out to be from the cockpit area.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 08:34:12 -0700

Joe Idoni
Looking down on the wreckage pile. A lot of it turned out to be from the cockpit area.

One of the main landing gear legs was in the pile. I was looking at the gear for a couple of mintues before I noticed the black angel hanging from the top of it.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:52:41 -0700

Joe Idoni
One of the main landing gear legs was in the pile. I was looking at the gear for a couple of mintues before I noticed the black angel hanging from the top of it.

Close up of the angel. There was a bottle with a note inside, but the top was off and the paper was so deteriorated I didn't want to touch it. I heard that the angel was placed here by a ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:52:43 -0700

Joe Idoni
Close up of the angel. There was a bottle with a note inside, but the top was off and the paper was so deteriorated I didn't want to touch it. I heard that the angel was placed here by a ...

Fittings on the gear, maybe brake lines.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:52:44 -0700

Joe Idoni
Fittings on the gear, maybe brake lines.

Piece of the wing's leading edge with a scoop.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:52:46 -0700

Joe Idoni
Piece of the wing's leading edge with a scoop.

Thinking that this group of cables may be from the throttle control console.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:52:48 -0700

Joe Idoni
Thinking that this group of cables may be from the throttle control console.

Piece of the fuselage at the top of the tree.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:52:50 -0700

Joe Idoni
Piece of the fuselage at the top of the tree.

Inside the pile of wreckage, I could make out one of the control columns (it's upside down). The control wheel would be attached to the flange with the three bolts.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:52:56 -0700

Joe Idoni
Inside the pile of wreckage, I could make out one of the control columns (it's upside down). The control wheel would be attached to the flange with the three bolts.

Most of the other control column was nearby. The part on the right would be under the floor and the part that's at the bottom of the photo is the upright.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:52:58 -0700

Joe Idoni
Most of the other control column was nearby. The part on the right would be under the floor and the part that's at the bottom of the photo is the upright.

The pulleys at the bottom corner of the column.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:53:00 -0700

Joe Idoni
The pulleys at the bottom corner of the column.

This shot is from the C-45G N6065V at "Angel's Ladies" in Beatty, Nevada. It shows the control columns. On the one on the right, you can see the pulleys and cables under the floor.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:53:04 -0700

Joe Idoni
This shot is from the C-45G N6065V at "Angel's Ladies" in Beatty, Nevada. It shows the control columns. On the one on the right, you can see the pulleys and cables under the floor.

Pulley and cables.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:53:09 -0700

Joe Idoni
Pulley and cables.

A three way valve with hose clamps.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:53:12 -0700

Joe Idoni
A three way valve with hose clamps.

Figure that this chain may be from the gear retract system (just guessing).

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:53:13 -0700

Joe Idoni
Figure that this chain may be from the gear retract system (just guessing).

After checking out the wreckage at the tree, I followed the trail of debris up the slope. This actuator looks to small to be for a control suface, thinking that it might be for one of the tr ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:53:14 -0700

Joe Idoni
After checking out the wreckage at the tree, I followed the trail of debris up the slope. This actuator looks to small to be for a control suface, thinking that it might be for one of the tr ...

Two engine push rods still inside their tubes.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:52:31 -0700

Joe Idoni
Two engine push rods still inside their tubes.

There wasn't much aluminum remaining at the site.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:53:18 -0700

Joe Idoni
There wasn't much aluminum remaining at the site.

Still hiking up the slope.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:53:30 -0700

Joe Idoni
Still hiking up the slope.

This looks like the point of impact. There's a lot of small pieces scattered around.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:53:32 -0700

Joe Idoni
This looks like the point of impact. There's a lot of small pieces scattered around.

Push rod. Wearing gloves because the temp is a little on the cold side and the wind is really blowing.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:53:35 -0700

Joe Idoni
Push rod. Wearing gloves because the temp is a little on the cold side and the wind is really blowing.

Rocker arm with a piece of the head still attached to it. Top of the push rod tube is lock wired to it.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:53:37 -0700

Joe Idoni
Rocker arm with a piece of the head still attached to it. Top of the push rod tube is lock wired to it.

Another rocker. This one has a hose clamp wired to it.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:53:39 -0700

Joe Idoni
Another rocker. This one has a hose clamp wired to it.

Valve spring.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:53:40 -0700

Joe Idoni
Valve spring.

Pressure bottle, guessing that it's an oxyen bottle.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:53:41 -0700

Joe Idoni
Pressure bottle, guessing that it's an oxyen bottle.

Bucket of yellow paint. Must have been used to mark the wreckage before it was removed.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:53:44 -0700

Joe Idoni
Bucket of yellow paint. Must have been used to mark the wreckage before it was removed.

A couple of pieces of laminated glass.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:53:46 -0700

Joe Idoni
A couple of pieces of laminated glass.

Piece of exhaust tubing.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:53:50 -0700

Joe Idoni
Piece of exhaust tubing.

Found a few pieces with part numbers, but none matched the prefix of for the Beechcraft C-45. I was told that this was a C-45 and I recognized some pieces as coming from a C-45.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:53:52 -0700

Joe Idoni
Found a few pieces with part numbers, but none matched the prefix of for the Beechcraft C-45. I was told that this was a C-45 and I recognized some pieces as coming from a C-45.

Think that this is the plate for the ignition points.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:53:55 -0700

Joe Idoni
Think that this is the plate for the ignition points.

Buckles.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:53:57 -0700

Joe Idoni
Buckles.

Brake master cylinders???

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:53:59 -0700

Joe Idoni
Brake master cylinders???

No idea what this may be from.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:54:01 -0700

Joe Idoni
No idea what this may be from.

Small pieces.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:54:03 -0700

Joe Idoni
Small pieces.

Binder for a note book.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:54:05 -0700

Joe Idoni
Binder for a note book.

Heading down from the impact site, I took a different route down and came upon the lower part of a main landing gear and the remains of a tire. A cactus made a home out of it.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:54:07 -0700

Joe Idoni
Heading down from the impact site, I took a different route down and came upon the lower part of a main landing gear and the remains of a tire. A cactus made a home out of it.

Part of a window frame.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:54:08 -0700

Joe Idoni
Part of a window frame.

Battery case.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:54:10 -0700

Joe Idoni
Battery case.

Piece of skin with a door.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:54:11 -0700

Joe Idoni
Piece of skin with a door.

Almost back down to the cockpit wreckage. This site turned out to have a lot of interesting stuff remaining, well worth the visit. THE END

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 08:34:11 -0700

Joe Idoni
Almost back down to the cockpit wreckage. This site turned out to have a lot of interesting stuff remaining, well worth the visit. THE END