On 5/7/71 the Mooney M20E N1385W was on a flight from Los Angeles, California to Scottsdale, Arizona. When it failed to arrive at it's destination a search was started. The wreckage of the plane was located three days later by a California Highway Patrol helicopter in the San Bernardino Mountains. The plane flew into trees on ridge while being flown by a non instrument rated pilot in adverse weather with snow, icing conditions, turbulence and visibility of less than a quarter mile. Killed in the accident were the pilot, his wife and five year old daughter.

On the search for the Mooney N1385W. I came to this area to look for the another crash site, but after spending a couple of hours and not finding it, I gave up. It was still early so I decided to search for the Mooney which should be somewhere in the same area. I haven't been getting out much lately and it was such a nice day, it just felt good being out in the mountains.

I saw something about a hundred yards away and went to check it out. Tuned out to be the remains of a mylar balloon, these things are everywhere.

From the area that I found the balloon, I used a pair 10X50 binoculars to scan the area and something white caught my eye. I wasn't sure that it was the Mooney, but it definitely looked like aircraft wreckage. Problem was that it was about a mile away and there was a steep 1000 foot deep canyon between me and it. Have to find another way to approach it.

After hiking two miles back to the truck and driving around for about an hour, I found a spot that I thought was within a few miles from where I spotted the wreckage ( I hoped).

It took a while, but I sure was happy when I spotted the wreckage. I got a little disorientated while driving around and wasn't sure which canyon it was in. Found it in the second one I checked. Good thing I got an early start and it gets dark late these days.

The first piece I came upon was from the fuselage, it's about three feet long.

Close up of the window pieces.

The other side of the same piece. It has a light, air vents and ducting on it.

Close up of the light fixture, vent and ducting hoses.

More air vents on the same piece.

Fuselage skin with red/orange paint.

A four foot long piece from the fuselage frame.

This piece had an access opening with what looked like a check valve that was about four inches in diameter.

The other side of the same piece.

This is a large section of the fuselage with most of the left wing attached looking from the rear.

Closer view of the wing, a lot of it is buried.

The right side of the fuselage. The opening at the top is the rear side window. The other is the baggage compartment.

The 85W from the plane's N1385W registration number.

Side view.

Close up of the side window.

There was a handle above the window. Looks like it's there to hang on while loading the baggage compartment.

This view shows that the front of the fuselage was broken off at the rear door jam.

View of top side.

Looking into the baggage compartment.

Inside the baggage compartment there was part of fuselage frame with linkages.

The door from the baggage compartment was nearby.

This piece looks like it's from the wing.

The other side has sealer on it, must be from a fuel tank section.

Looks like an access cover, no idea which part of the plane it's from.

Looks like an engine part, but not sure where it's from.

Broken trees near the center of the debris field.

Ball from an air vent.

The right main landing gear door.

Rib from the wing.

Looks like the screen for the engine air intake.

Looked up the part number G6250-4 on this piece and came up with Grimes landing light assembly. It a part from the retractable landing light.

Farther down was the tail section and some other pieces.

Front view of the tail section and pieces from the wing.

View of most of the wreckage in this area.

Another view of the wreckage.

I think this is a piece from the wing, I didn't take the time to get a good look at it.

One of the seats.

The paint on the tail was still bright due to it being on the shade side.

Most of the registration number N1385W can be seem on this side.

Closer view of the registration number.

The Mooney emblem of the fin.

Another seat was just below the tail.