On 5/2/59 the Piper PA-24 Comanche N5615P crashed while on a flight to Fresno, California. The pilot and two passengers were returning from fishing trip, all three men onboard were killed in the accident. A search for the missing airplane was unsuccessful until 7/28/59 when a Civil Air Patrol pilot spotted the wreckage on Mammoth Mountain in the thick pine forest. Killed in the accident were, Kenneth Yerger, Howard Laurain, and Jack Howell.

A view of 11,059 foot high Mammoth Mountain on the left as I come upon the Mammoth Airport on the right. I believe that the Piper's flight originated from here, but can't confirm it.

Driving to Horseshoe Lake from where I'll start the hike to the crash site. It's been about five years since I'll hiked in this area.

The dead trees at Horseshoe Lake that were kill by the CO2 seeping up from the ground.

The final part of the hike to the crash site is off trail.

Approaching the crash site. The first thing that got my attention was the tail end of the fuselage standing up against a tree.

The mounts for the vertical stabilizer on the top side of the fuselage.

The other side showing the bottom.

The registration number N5615P was on the side making this airplane easy to identify.

Closer view of the number.

The frame to the rear seat.

A part from the exhaust system.

The engine's air filter.

Maintenance instructions on filter.

The wing was laying next to the fuselage section.

The left wing tip.

The complete wing was still attached to the bottom of the fuselage.

View of the cabin area.

Closer view of the engine mount attached to the firewall.

The bottoms of the two front seats were still in place.

The cabin area from the other side.

This view from the rear shows were the fuselage ends, just behind the wing. The square opening in the fuselage is for the baggage compartment door.

The Piper name just above the baggage compartment.

View of the instrument panel area. The red lever on the left is for the parking brake, the black one in the center controls the manual operated flaps.

Close view.

The right side control tube was still in place.

Left side rudder pedals.

Remaining controls on the panel. Engine controls on the left and environmental on right.

Another view of the cabin area. Looks like the top of the fuselage was cut off.

Wing walk on right wing.

A section of the fuselage side folded flat against the wing. The rear side window can be seen above the armrest.

Closer view showing the window, armrest and ashtray.

The main wing spars pass through the fuselage between the front and rear seats and are joined at the center.

The reinforced area where the spar is mounted onto the fuselage.

Looking over the cabin area to the tail end of the fuselage.

The right wing. I couldn't figure out why the wings had such little damage considering the area the airplane went down in. Looks like it was just dropped here.

A tree has fallen on the right wing tip.

The wing tip on the other side of the tree.

This photo shows most of the wreckage remaining at the site.

Exhaust tubing.

This looks like the frame between the front and rear left side windows.

A large piece from one of the side windows.

The top to the fuselage, the opening for the cabin door can be seen. Looks like it was cut off.

Sun visors.

Same piece turned over.

This piece has the top hinge from the cabin door and along the top is the a section of the windshield frame.

Piece from the tail end of the fuselage.

This piece is marked with DO NOT PAINT, it's made of aluminum, must of had an antenna on it.