Mojave L-39C "Wild Child" 5/3/08

On February 26, 2006, at about 8:30am the Aero Vodochody, L39C, N39DF (Wild Child), crashed into hilly terrain during a low altitude course reversal maneuver northwest of California City, Ca ...

2009-08-22T10:10:27Z

Joe Idoni
On February 26, 2006, at about 8:30am the Aero Vodochody, L39C, N39DF (Wild Child), crashed into hilly terrain during a low altitude course reversal maneuver northwest of California City, Ca ...

This photo of N39DF "Wild Chiild" landing at the Van Nuys Airport was taken by Matt Wallman on 2/25/06, the day before the accident.

2008-12-18T19:48:45Z

Joe Idoni
This photo of N39DF "Wild Chiild" landing at the Van Nuys Airport was taken by Matt Wallman on 2/25/06, the day before the accident.

Following Tom G to the place we will start the hike from after meeting him out by the highway. A few days before this, Tom Gossett emailed me and asked if I would like to join him on a s ...

2009-03-18T12:43:48Z

Joe Idoni
Following Tom G to the place we will start the hike from after meeting him out by the highway. A few days before this, Tom Gossett emailed me and asked if I would like to join him on a s ...

Heading off in the direction we hope to find the L-39's crash site in which I'm thinking is only going to have tiny pieces remianing.

2009-03-18T12:53:04Z

Joe Idoni
Heading off in the direction we hope to find the L-39's crash site in which I'm thinking is only going to have tiny pieces remianing.

We came upon this wash that was full of scattered wreckage. Really surprised me that it wasn't all taken way after the accident investigation.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
We came upon this wash that was full of scattered wreckage. Really surprised me that it wasn't all taken way after the accident investigation.

Looking up the wash.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
Looking up the wash.

Panel with an antenna. This part is from the bottom side of the fuselage.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
Panel with an antenna. This part is from the bottom side of the fuselage.

Piece of the airframe with some purple, red and yellow trim.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
Piece of the airframe with some purple, red and yellow trim.

Lot of wire and an oxygen bottle.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
Lot of wire and an oxygen bottle.

Part of a belt.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
Part of a belt.

One of the flight instruments.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
One of the flight instruments.

Looks like an altimeter.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
Looks like an altimeter.

One of the instrument panels.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
One of the instrument panels.

Piece from the canopy.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
Piece from the canopy.

Nose gear and other wreckage.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
Nose gear and other wreckage.

Better view of the nose gear. This is the first part I saw that I recognize as coming from a L-39.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
Better view of the nose gear. This is the first part I saw that I recognize as coming from a L-39.

Wheel and remains of the tire. Most of the wreakage in this area looks like it's been in an intense fire.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
Wheel and remains of the tire. Most of the wreakage in this area looks like it's been in an intense fire.

Piece of skin showing trim colors. At this point I have no idea which plane this is other than L-39 N39DF.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
Piece of skin showing trim colors. At this point I have no idea which plane this is other than L-39 N39DF.

Nose from one of the tip tanks.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
Nose from one of the tip tanks.

I believe that this is part of one of the ejection seats. The center post looked like a track that would be mounted in the plane and the rest part of the seat.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
I believe that this is part of one of the ejection seats. The center post looked like a track that would be mounted in the plane and the rest part of the seat.

Same part turned over. The NTSB report stated that this L-39 was equipped with ejection seats, but the activation mechanism had been rendered inoperable. Made me wonder if they were working ...

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
Same part turned over. The NTSB report stated that this L-39 was equipped with ejection seats, but the activation mechanism had been rendered inoperable. Made me wonder if they were working ...

Pieces of the canopy frame.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
Pieces of the canopy frame.

Close up of one of a frames. Didn't take us long to figure out that just about everything in this area was from the nose section of the aircraft.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
Close up of one of a frames. Didn't take us long to figure out that just about everything in this area was from the nose section of the aircraft.

Tom found what looked like to us as a piece of a flight suit. Things like this make you stop and think that this is more than just a pile of aircraft wreckage.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
Tom found what looked like to us as a piece of a flight suit. Things like this make you stop and think that this is more than just a pile of aircraft wreckage.

Climbing out of the wash we came upon a memorial to the pilots who lost their lives here.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
Climbing out of the wash we came upon a memorial to the pilots who lost their lives here.

Once out of the wash, we could see wreckage scattered off to the west and started following it. This pressure bottle was the first interesting thing I found.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
Once out of the wash, we could see wreckage scattered off to the west and started following it. This pressure bottle was the first interesting thing I found.

It had funny looking writing on it. The L-39's were manufactured in Czechoslovakia as jet trainers. About 150 L-39's are in civilian hands in United States.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
It had funny looking writing on it. The L-39's were manufactured in Czechoslovakia as jet trainers. About 150 L-39's are in civilian hands in United States.

One of the air brakes.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
One of the air brakes.

Close by was the other one.

2009-03-18T12:53:25Z

Joe Idoni
Close by was the other one.

Looking up it was hard to believe what I was seeing. There was a lot of large sections of the L-39 on the slope up ahead. Getting closer could make out the wing and engine along some other l ...

2009-03-18T12:58:53Z

Joe Idoni
Looking up it was hard to believe what I was seeing. There was a lot of large sections of the L-39 on the slope up ahead. Getting closer could make out the wing and engine along some other l ...

Me with the center section of the wing, engine and fin.

2009-03-18T12:58:53Z

Joe Idoni
Me with the center section of the wing, engine and fin.

Another view of the wreckage. Unbelievable, the whole time I had it in my head that if we found the site, all that would remain was tiny pieces. The entire plane is at the site.

2009-03-18T12:58:53Z

Joe Idoni
Another view of the wreckage. Unbelievable, the whole time I had it in my head that if we found the site, all that would remain was tiny pieces. The entire plane is at the site.

Tom checking out the wreckage up above which turned out to be the horizontal stab and the tail end of the fuselage. Looks like after inpacting to the east and breaking the nose section off, ...

2009-03-18T13:08:35Z

Joe Idoni
Tom checking out the wreckage up above which turned out to be the horizontal stab and the tail end of the fuselage. Looks like after inpacting to the east and breaking the nose section off, ...

End view of the wing. Both tips were torn off.

2009-03-18T13:09:23Z

Joe Idoni
End view of the wing. Both tips were torn off.

Damage on the right wing. The wing ended up upside down.

2009-03-18T13:09:40Z

Joe Idoni
Damage on the right wing. The wing ended up upside down.

The main landing gears were still tucked up in thier wells.

2009-03-18T13:09:40Z

Joe Idoni
The main landing gears were still tucked up in thier wells.

Another view of the landing gear.

2009-03-18T13:09:40Z

Joe Idoni
Another view of the landing gear.

Landing gear again.

2009-03-18T13:09:40Z

Joe Idoni
Landing gear again.

The only fire damage to the wing seem to be from the tires burning.

2009-03-18T13:09:40Z

Joe Idoni
The only fire damage to the wing seem to be from the tires burning.

The landing gear doors were next to the wing.

2009-03-18T13:09:40Z

Joe Idoni
The landing gear doors were next to the wing.

Front view of the left wing. The flap was still attached on this side.

2009-03-18T13:09:40Z

Joe Idoni
Front view of the left wing. The flap was still attached on this side.

There was a valve hanging out of the leading edge.

2009-03-18T13:09:40Z

Joe Idoni
There was a valve hanging out of the leading edge.

Close up of the valve. Thinking that it might be a fuel stutoff valve for the tip tank.

2009-03-18T13:09:40Z

Joe Idoni
Close up of the valve. Thinking that it might be a fuel stutoff valve for the tip tank.

Tom checking out the engine as I make my way around.

2009-03-18T13:19:08Z

Joe Idoni
Tom checking out the engine as I make my way around.

On the left is the fin with some of the fuselage still attached to it.

2009-03-18T13:19:30Z

Joe Idoni
On the left is the fin with some of the fuselage still attached to it.

Looking down on the fin. After taking this shot I read the name "Wild Child". I wasn't sure, but that name sounded really familiar. It took me about a minute of thinking before I put the nam ...

2009-03-18T13:19:43Z

Joe Idoni
Looking down on the fin. After taking this shot I read the name "Wild Child". I wasn't sure, but that name sounded really familiar. It took me about a minute of thinking before I put the nam ...

Better view of the artwork. I remember seeing photos of this plane in past. When a got home I checked my downloaded aircraft photos and I found a few of the plane. Knew that I'll seen this p ...

2009-03-18T13:19:43Z

Joe Idoni
Better view of the artwork. I remember seeing photos of this plane in past. When a got home I checked my downloaded aircraft photos and I found a few of the plane. Knew that I'll seen this p ...

Another view of the fin.

2009-03-18T13:19:43Z

Joe Idoni
Another view of the fin.

Checkerboard top. It's turned round, pointing backwards. Think that the tube is a video camera. Seen videos that looked like they were taken from that angle.

2009-03-18T13:19:43Z

Joe Idoni
Checkerboard top. It's turned round, pointing backwards. Think that the tube is a video camera. Seen videos that looked like they were taken from that angle.

The antenna was still intact on this side. The artwork was almost burned off.

2009-03-18T13:19:43Z

Joe Idoni
The antenna was still intact on this side. The artwork was almost burned off.

The Ivenchenko AI-25TL engine that powered the L-39.

2009-03-18T13:29:59Z

Joe Idoni
The Ivenchenko AI-25TL engine that powered the L-39.

Close look at this side of the engine.

2009-03-18T13:30:24Z

Joe Idoni
Close look at this side of the engine.

Looks like a lot of the fuselage is melted away on this side..

2009-03-18T13:30:24Z

Joe Idoni
Looks like a lot of the fuselage is melted away on this side..

Front view, the engine doesn't show any impact damage.

2009-03-18T13:30:24Z

Joe Idoni
Front view, the engine doesn't show any impact damage.

Another view of the engine.

2009-03-18T13:30:24Z

Joe Idoni
Another view of the engine.

A large section of the fuselage remains on this side.

2009-03-18T13:30:24Z

Joe Idoni
A large section of the fuselage remains on this side.

Never seen an engine in this good of shape at a crash site.

2009-03-18T13:30:53Z

Joe Idoni
Never seen an engine in this good of shape at a crash site.

Another view of the fuselage section.

2009-03-18T13:31:19Z

Joe Idoni
Another view of the fuselage section.

Other than the fire damage, the engine looks in good shape.

2009-03-18T13:31:19Z

Joe Idoni
Other than the fire damage, the engine looks in good shape.

The engine's tail pipe was at the bottonm of the gully.

2009-03-18T13:31:19Z

Joe Idoni
The engine's tail pipe was at the bottonm of the gully.

The upper piece of the rudder was also in the gully.

2009-03-18T13:31:19Z

Joe Idoni
The upper piece of the rudder was also in the gully.

Nearby was the lower piece of the rudder.

2009-03-18T13:31:19Z

Joe Idoni
Nearby was the lower piece of the rudder.

Tag on the lower piece of the rudder.

2009-03-18T13:31:19Z

Joe Idoni
Tag on the lower piece of the rudder.

The flap from the right wing.

2009-03-18T13:31:19Z

Joe Idoni
The flap from the right wing.

No idea what this is, looks like a linkage for something.

2009-03-18T13:31:19Z

Joe Idoni
No idea what this is, looks like a linkage for something.

This tank is about 18 inches across. Looks like it's either a vacuum or low pressure tank. Made out of a light material.

2009-03-18T13:31:19Z

Joe Idoni
This tank is about 18 inches across. Looks like it's either a vacuum or low pressure tank. Made out of a light material.

Looking up at the stabs.

2009-03-18T13:31:19Z

Joe Idoni
Looking up at the stabs.

The tail end of the fuslage is still attached.

2009-03-18T13:31:19Z

Joe Idoni
The tail end of the fuslage is still attached.

Looking down on the wing and engine down below.

2009-03-18T13:31:19Z

Joe Idoni
Looking down on the wing and engine down below.

The left stab was missing it's tip

2009-03-18T13:31:19Z

Joe Idoni
The left stab was missing it's tip

The right stab and elevator..

2009-03-18T13:31:19Z

Joe Idoni
The right stab and elevator..

Elevator trim tab and linkage.

2009-03-18T13:31:19Z

Joe Idoni
Elevator trim tab and linkage.

Damage on the right stab.

2009-03-18T13:31:19Z

Joe Idoni
Damage on the right stab.

Close up of the tubulators on the stab.

2009-03-18T13:31:19Z

Joe Idoni
Close up of the tubulators on the stab.

This shot was taken from above the tail section shows the path cleared by the L-39 from it's impact spot to where it came to rest. The cleared area showed signs of being burned. Photo By ...

2009-03-18T13:31:19Z

Joe Idoni
This shot was taken from above the tail section shows the path cleared by the L-39 from it's impact spot to where it came to rest. The cleared area showed signs of being burned. Photo By ...

After a couple of hours we started hiking out.

2009-03-18T13:52:21Z

Joe Idoni
After a couple of hours we started hiking out.

Last look as we head east. We decided to see if we could find anything further east past the wreckage of the nose section.

2009-03-18T13:52:35Z

Joe Idoni
Last look as we head east. We decided to see if we could find anything further east past the wreckage of the nose section.

Back to the wash with the wreckage.

2009-03-18T13:52:35Z

Joe Idoni
Back to the wash with the wreckage.

Tom up ahead as we keep searching.

2009-03-18T13:52:35Z

Joe Idoni
Tom up ahead as we keep searching.

About a hundred yards east of the wash, we found the right aileron.

2009-03-18T13:52:35Z

Joe Idoni
About a hundred yards east of the wash, we found the right aileron.

Close by was the right wing tip. Reading the crash report, sounds like this tip was the first part of the aircraft that made contact with the ground. We found a ground swath with paint chips ...

2009-03-18T13:52:35Z

Joe Idoni
Close by was the right wing tip. Reading the crash report, sounds like this tip was the first part of the aircraft that made contact with the ground. We found a ground swath with paint chips ...

Another view of the wing tip.

2009-03-18T13:52:35Z

Joe Idoni
Another view of the wing tip.

Filler cap on the tip tank.

2009-03-18T13:52:35Z

Joe Idoni
Filler cap on the tip tank.

Tom with the wing tip. This was the last piece of Wild Chlid's wreckage we were able to find. I'm pretty sure that we found most if not all of the wreckage. What was missing was probably con ...

2009-03-18T13:52:35Z

Joe Idoni
Tom with the wing tip. This was the last piece of Wild Chlid's wreckage we were able to find. I'm pretty sure that we found most if not all of the wreckage. What was missing was probably con ...