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 ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 08:19:14 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Wed, 21 May 2008 17:33:25 -0700

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 ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:40:53 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:51:20 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:21:47 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:21:48 -0700

Joe Idoni
Looking up the wash.

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

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:21:49 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:21:50 -0700

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

Lot of wire and an oxygen bottle.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:21:52 -0700

Joe Idoni
Lot of wire and an oxygen bottle.

Part of a belt.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:21:53 -0700

Joe Idoni
Part of a belt.

One of the flight instruments.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:21:54 -0700

Joe Idoni
One of the flight instruments.

Looks like an altimeter.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:21:55 -0700

Joe Idoni
Looks like an altimeter.

One of the instrument panels.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:21:56 -0700

Joe Idoni
One of the instrument panels.

Piece from the canopy.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:21:58 -0700

Joe Idoni
Piece from the canopy.

Nose gear and other wreckage.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:00 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:01 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:02 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:04 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:04 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:06 -0700

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 ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:07 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:08 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:09 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:10 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:11 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:13 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:14 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:14 -0700

Joe Idoni
One of the air brakes.

Close by was the other one.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:16 -0700

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 ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:18 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:20 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:21 -0700

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, ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:06:33 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:06:32 -0700

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

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

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:25 -0700

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

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

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:25 -0700

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

Another view of the landing gear.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:26 -0700

Joe Idoni
Another view of the landing gear.

Landing gear again.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:27 -0700

Joe Idoni
Landing gear again.

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

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:28 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:29 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:30 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:31 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:32 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:16:52 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:16:53 -0700

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 ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:35 -0700

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 ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:36 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:36 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:38 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:39 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:27:49 -0700

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

Close look at this side of the engine.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:41 -0700

Joe Idoni
Close look at this side of the engine.

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

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:43 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:44 -0700

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

Another view of the engine.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:45 -0700

Joe Idoni
Another view of the engine.

A large section of the fuselage remains on this side.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:46 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:27:48 -0700

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

Another view of the fuselage section.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:48 -0700

Joe Idoni
Another view of the fuselage section.

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

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:49 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:50 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:51 -0700

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

Nearby was the lower piece of the rudder.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:52 -0700

Joe Idoni
Nearby was the lower piece of the rudder.

Tag on the lower piece of the rudder.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:53 -0700

Joe Idoni
Tag on the lower piece of the rudder.

The flap from the right wing.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:53 -0700

Joe Idoni
The flap from the right wing.

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

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:55 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:56 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:57 -0700

Joe Idoni
Looking up at the stabs.

The tail end of the fuslage is still attached.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:58 -0700

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

Looking down on the wing and engine down below.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:59 -0700

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

The left stab was missing it's tip

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:23:01 -0700

Joe Idoni
The left stab was missing it's tip

The right stab and elevator..

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:23:02 -0700

Joe Idoni
The right stab and elevator..

Elevator trim tab and linkage.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:23:04 -0700

Joe Idoni
Elevator trim tab and linkage.

Damage on the right stab.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:23:05 -0700

Joe Idoni
Damage on the right stab.

Close up of the tubulators on the stab.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:23:06 -0700

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 ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 21:49:44 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:47:31 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:47:32 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:23:10 -0700

Joe Idoni
Back to the wash with the wreckage.

Tom up ahead as we keep searching.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:47:33 -0700

Joe Idoni
Tom up ahead as we keep searching.

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

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:23:13 -0700

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 ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:23:15 -0700

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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:23:16 -0700

Joe Idoni
Another view of the wing tip.

Filler cap on the tip tank.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:23:17 -0700

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 ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:47:34 -0700

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 ...