Douglas AD-5N Skyraider wreck on east side of Martinez Mtn.

[jim5150jvc]

Anybody else ever visit this before? The crash occurred on March 22, 1956 and all 3 crew members perished: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26540272@N06/sets/72157627434455535/

[Terawanderer]

Haven't been there but would go with you to find it.....looks interesting

[jim5150jvc]

I hiked out there with a friend over 2 ½ years ago; I had no idea that it was there. Basically, you take the Boo Hoff to the Guadalupe trail, then when you get to 33°35'6.46"N, 116°20'32.23"W start heading southeast, descending into the upper reaches of Guadalupe wash and traversing it at 33°35'1.97"N, 116°20'9.18"W (the very top of a huge cliff). Then just follow the old Indian trails south to the site. It’s a looooonnnnnggg hike, but the elevation gain is pretty gradual this way. To return, if you don’t like walking downhill after so much uphill, it’s possible head southwest and meet the Cactus Spring trail to Pinyon Flats parking area, if you can arrange a shuttle.

[Terawanderer]

Thanks....I like visiting the older air crash sites.....

[jim5150jvc]

The site was visited again this last weekend by Trey Brandt, who posted some awesome photos of it on his aircraft archaeology website: [url]http://www.aircraftarchaeology.com/AD-5N%20Skyraider%20Crash.htm
[/url] Jeez, I think it hit at least 85 up there... he said he started hiking at 7:15 from the Sawmill parking lot, and didn't make it back until 9:30 pm.

[bluerail]

Ouch...that's a full day.

[Florian]

I'm puzzled a bit that the article jim5150jvc linked to said it took investigators 9 days to reach the crash site. 9 days?! I could understand an overnight hike but not 9 days. No one can carry 9 days of water.

I'd like to visit this site some day. But probably will come up from the La Quinta side.

-Florian

[Terawanderer]

Florian...if you want to join us......3 of us are heading out there in december....

[jim5150jvc]

I'm puzzled a bit that the article jim5150jvc linked to said it took investigators 9 days to reach the crash site. 9 days?! I could understand an overnight hike but not 9 days. No one can carry 9 days of water.

I'd like to visit this site some day. But probably will come up from the La Quinta side.

-Florian

yeah, I thought that was a strange claim too; Trey said he got that info from the official accident report. I think that was a combination of actually finding the wreck site, trying unsuccessfully to get a helicopter out there (remember, this was early spring when it gets insanely WINDY out here), then finally establishing a successful route to get to the site while trudging up all of the materials needed needed for both the accident investigation and to bring back the remains of the servicemen. Trey said he'd send me a scanned electronic copy of the accident report, and I'll let you know what I find out.