On 11/17/55 the USAF C-54M Skymaster #44-9068 crashed while on a routine flight carrying scientific and technical personnel from the Lockheed Skunk Works in Burbank, California to Groom Lake, Nevada where they were working on the U-2 spy plane. Because of the secrecy, the crew were never in contact with air traffic control. The plane flew on a new route that would cut 10 minutes off the total flight time by first heading northeast to Goodsprings, then turning northwest to their destination. The pilot thought they were flying west of the Spring Mountains, but a 75 mph crosswind, twice as much as expected, pushed the C-54 into a canyon heading toward Charleston Peak. The error in the aircraft’s position in relation to the Spring Mountain range and blinded by clouds resulted in the C-54 impacting just 50 feet below the crest of the ridge leading to Charleston Peak’s 11,818 foot summit. The crew of four and the ten passengers were killed in the accident.

Chip , Sooz, me and Robin at the South Loop trailhead at 7,600 feet. My plan is to hike to the crash site at 11,400 feet while the others continue on to the peak which is 400 feet higher and about half mile past the crash site.

Looking back down into Kyle Canyon after hiking about one and half miles. We'll be starting up the switchbacks soon.

Charleston Peak shows through the trees while on the switchbacks.

We came upon large patches of snow between 9,600 and 10,600 feet. Here we are hiking up the slope because we lost the trail.

After hiking about 4.5 miles and gaining 3,100 feet of altitude, we reached the top of the switchbacks and now are on the ridge leading to the peak. It will be about another 4.0 miles and due to the ups and downs on the trail, another 1,100 foot gain to reach the C-54's crash site.

At the top of the switchbacks, Sooz and Robin headed off to climb Griffith Peak which will add a mile and 500 feet of gain to their hike while Chip and I continued on. They will met up with us at the crash site.

It took a long time, but finally we are approaching Charleston Peak. The crash site maked by the arrow is about 400 feet below the peak. This photo was taken from three quarters of a mile away.

We found this prop hub next to the trail about a quarter mile from the site. The only way I could think it got where was someone who took it decided it was to heavy to carry for 8 miles and tossed it.

Another piece of wreckage as we start getting closer to the site.

Almost there. Some wreckage can be seen on the left edge of the snow patch.

Chip at the first pile of wreckage we came upon. The crash site is at 11,400 feet.

Looks like someone gathered it up into a pile. The first thing I noticed was that it was full of electrical wire.

This part had a lot of wire connections and some capacitors.

Piece of the fuselage skin.

This wire is about 3/8 of an inch thick.

Looks like a piece from an engine mount.

Part of an exhaust manifold.

Approaching the main wreckage area.

One of the engine mounts.

Part of the nacelle was still attached.

Engine mount structure.

Hose and AN fittings.

Front view.

A closer view shows a linkage running around the edge. Guessing that it might be for the cowl flaps. The dark gray section in the center is part of the engine intake system. The C-54 was powered by four Pratt & Whitney R-2000s.

One of the intake tubes.

Box with an electrical connector.

Looking up, I could see one of the landing gears.

It was one of the mains still attached to part of the wing structure.

It was the complete assembly minus the tires and wheels that must have burned off.

End view showing the axle.

Another view of the axle.

Wheel bearings.

Part of the assembly was buried into the slope.

The wing section that the landing gear was attached to looked like part of the main spar's shear webbing.

View from the other side. The trail can be seen in the background along with the small pile of wreckage with the wiring.

Close up of the actuator.

Another view of the axle. This side had a tube coming out the axle, thinking that it might be for the brakes.

Overall view of the landing gear and wing section.

Sooz and Robin arrived from their side trip to Griffith Peak. They took a few photos of the crash site then continued on with Chip to Charleston Peak.

Most of this wreckage looks like it's from the wing.

This view shows what looks like a wing spar.

Can see some of the wing's skin and another section of the spar.

This section had a lot cables and pulleys.

Another view of the cables and pulleys.

More pulleys and cables.

This was an interest part. It has wheels that conntected cables to pushrods.

Further down was the other main landing gear.

This one was in bad shape. It was bent and broken.