Owens River Gorge BT-13A 6/13/08

On 1/8/43 at about 3:30pm, student aviation cadet Walter John Kania took off on a routine solo practice flight in the area around Bishop, California and failed to return. The wreckage of hi ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:27:17 -0700

Joe Idoni
On 1/8/43 at about 3:30pm, student aviation cadet Walter John Kania took off on a routine solo practice flight in the area around Bishop, California and failed to return. The wreckage of hi ...

Heading north on Hwy 395 just past the town of Bishop. This will be my third attempt at locating the crash site of this BT-13 Valiant.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:09:22 -0700

Joe Idoni
Heading north on Hwy 395 just past the town of Bishop. This will be my third attempt at locating the crash site of this BT-13 Valiant.

Hiking towards the edge of the gorge which is just past the trees.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:09:23 -0700

Joe Idoni
Hiking towards the edge of the gorge which is just past the trees.

Looking north up the gorge as I hike along the slope just below the rim. While searching the area, I could just imagine the student pilot getting caught in down air while flying up the gorge ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:47:40 -0700

Joe Idoni
Looking north up the gorge as I hike along the slope just below the rim. While searching the area, I could just imagine the student pilot getting caught in down air while flying up the gorge ...

After hiking along the slope for a couple of hours, I spotted something shiny through the trees.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:21:08 -0700

Joe Idoni
After hiking along the slope for a couple of hours, I spotted something shiny through the trees.

Zoomed in could tell it was aluminum.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:47:45 -0700

Joe Idoni
Zoomed in could tell it was aluminum.

After hiking down a short way, I came upon what looks like the BT's impact spot.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:47:47 -0700

Joe Idoni
After hiking down a short way, I came upon what looks like the BT's impact spot.

There were some small pieces of wreakage in this area.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:09:29 -0700

Joe Idoni
There were some small pieces of wreakage in this area.

More small pieces. One of the engine's valve pushrods at center.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:09:33 -0700

Joe Idoni
More small pieces. One of the engine's valve pushrods at center.

This part has a Vultee inspection stamp.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:47:50 -0700

Joe Idoni
This part has a Vultee inspection stamp.

Pieces from the canopy.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:47:50 -0700

Joe Idoni
Pieces from the canopy.

Plate from a battery.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:47:51 -0700

Joe Idoni
Plate from a battery.

Piece of aluminum tubing with remains of hoses at each end.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:47:52 -0700

Joe Idoni
Piece of aluminum tubing with remains of hoses at each end.

Have no idea what is piece of porcelain is from.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:47:53 -0700

Joe Idoni
Have no idea what is piece of porcelain is from.

Lower down a bit were these two pieces, maybe some of the wing skin.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:47:53 -0700

Joe Idoni
Lower down a bit were these two pieces, maybe some of the wing skin.

Down below, I could see the large piece that first caught my eye up against a tree.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:21:09 -0700

Joe Idoni
Down below, I could see the large piece that first caught my eye up against a tree.

Hiking down a little, I could see that there were two large sections from the wing here.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:47:58 -0700

Joe Idoni
Hiking down a little, I could see that there were two large sections from the wing here.

This piece is the left inner section of the wing.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:09:43 -0700

Joe Idoni
This piece is the left inner section of the wing.

Looks like the outer section was unbolted from the main and rear spar attachment points..

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:09:45 -0700

Joe Idoni
Looks like the outer section was unbolted from the main and rear spar attachment points..

Close up of the main spar.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:09:46 -0700

Joe Idoni
Close up of the main spar.

Better view of the left inner wing section. On the the right where there is no wing skin is where the fuselage would be located.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:09:47 -0700

Joe Idoni
Better view of the left inner wing section. On the the right where there is no wing skin is where the fuselage would be located.

Wing ribs and the main spar.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:09:49 -0700

Joe Idoni
Wing ribs and the main spar.

Close up of the main spar shows how it is beefed up at the attachment point for the outer wing section.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:09:52 -0700

Joe Idoni
Close up of the main spar shows how it is beefed up at the attachment point for the outer wing section.

The walkway on the wing is barely visible.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:09:53 -0700

Joe Idoni
The walkway on the wing is barely visible.

This open section is where the fuselage was located.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:48:08 -0700

Joe Idoni
This open section is where the fuselage was located.

View from the root end.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:48:09 -0700

Joe Idoni
View from the root end.

Front view of the wing section.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:48:19 -0700

Joe Idoni
Front view of the wing section.

Close view of the wing shows what looks like a impact mark just left of where the fuselage would be.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:48:20 -0700

Joe Idoni
Close view of the wing shows what looks like a impact mark just left of where the fuselage would be.

Think this was the location of the main landing gear.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:48:21 -0700

Joe Idoni
Think this was the location of the main landing gear.

Remains of a tire.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:48:22 -0700

Joe Idoni
Remains of a tire.

Nearby was the right inner section of the wing. This is looking at it's top side with the leading edge on top.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:48:23 -0700

Joe Idoni
Nearby was the right inner section of the wing. This is looking at it's top side with the leading edge on top.

Same wing section from below. The tree stopped it from traveling further down the steep slope.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:10:05 -0700

Joe Idoni
Same wing section from below. The tree stopped it from traveling further down the steep slope.

It also had the outer section unbolted.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:10:06 -0700

Joe Idoni
It also had the outer section unbolted.

Four of the bolts remained on the main spar. They showed no sign of damage. Who ever salvaged this site took the outer wing sections, the fuselage, tail and landing gear. For some reason the ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:48:28 -0700

Joe Idoni
Four of the bolts remained on the main spar. They showed no sign of damage. Who ever salvaged this site took the outer wing sections, the fuselage, tail and landing gear. For some reason the ...

This plate with a part number starting with 63 was inside the wing. The 63 prefix indicates that it's Vultee BT-13 or 15.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:48:29 -0700

Joe Idoni
This plate with a part number starting with 63 was inside the wing. The 63 prefix indicates that it's Vultee BT-13 or 15.

Root section of the wing. This is where it was attached to the other section.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:10:10 -0700

Joe Idoni
Root section of the wing. This is where it was attached to the other section.

This was the largest piece of the fuselage frame at the site. Think it's part of the engine mount.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:10:12 -0700

Joe Idoni
This was the largest piece of the fuselage frame at the site. Think it's part of the engine mount.

Looking up at the wing from further down the slope.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:48:31 -0700

Joe Idoni
Looking up at the wing from further down the slope.

This piece is about three feet long.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:48:32 -0700

Joe Idoni
This piece is about three feet long.

Same piece turned over, think it's part of the fuselage skin.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:48:33 -0700

Joe Idoni
Same piece turned over, think it's part of the fuselage skin.

About fifty below, I could see something shiny under a tree.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:48:34 -0700

Joe Idoni
About fifty below, I could see something shiny under a tree.

Looks like the firewall.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:48:35 -0700

Joe Idoni
Looks like the firewall.

A little bit the fuselage frame was attached to it.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:10:18 -0700

Joe Idoni
A little bit the fuselage frame was attached to it.

Rumor has it that the engine was down in the bottom of the gorge. The gorge is only four hundred feet deep at this point so tried hiking down to look for it. When I got about half way down, ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:21:04 -0700

Joe Idoni
Rumor has it that the engine was down in the bottom of the gorge. The gorge is only four hundred feet deep at this point so tried hiking down to look for it. When I got about half way down, ...

Another view of the wing sections as I make my way back to the top.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:10:22 -0700

Joe Idoni
Another view of the wing sections as I make my way back to the top.

When I got back up on the rim, noticed that from the right spot I could barely see a little of one of the wings.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:10:24 -0700

Joe Idoni
When I got back up on the rim, noticed that from the right spot I could barely see a little of one of the wings.

Walking back to the truck. I hiked about a quarter mile along gorge looking for the crash site.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:48:48 -0700

Joe Idoni
Walking back to the truck. I hiked about a quarter mile along gorge looking for the crash site.

View of the Sierras as I drive on the dirt roads back to the highway. THE END

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:48:49 -0700

Joe Idoni
View of the Sierras as I drive on the dirt roads back to the highway. THE END