1972 Plane Crash in Indian Spring Canyon

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Jim Hatt

1972 Plane Crash in Indian Spring Canyon

Post by Jim Hatt »

somehiker wrote:Jim:
The wreckage in your photos is that of a Mooney M20 that hit Tortilla Mtn. at 4700 ft. on Dec 8,1972.The 60yr. old pilot was on a flight from Clifton/Morencey to Phoenix.
The last photo is of the top section of engine cowling.The "PC" on the cowling indicates that this A/C was equipped with the Mooney "positive control system",an automatic wing leveler.
I'm sure that a hike up to the location would be interesting.

Regards:Wayne

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3738 72/12/8 NR.APACHE JCTN,ARIZ MOONEY M20E CR- 1 0 0 NONCOMMERCIAL PRIVATE, AGE 60, 350
TIME - 1820 N6019Q PX- 0 0 0 PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP TOTAL HOURS, 344 IN TYPE,
DAMAGE-DESTROYED OT- 0 0 0 NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
DEPARTURE POINT INTENDED DESTINATION
CLIFTON-MORNCI,ARIZ PHOENIX,ARIZ
TYPE OF ACCIDENT PHASE OF OPERATION
COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
FACTOR(S)
WEATHER - OTHER
WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
SKY CONDITION CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED 4000
VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED) NONE
OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE TEMPERATURE-F
NONE 53
WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
110 3
TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
VFR NONE
REMARKS- OBSCURED MTN TOPS FCSTD.HIT UPSLOPE SIDE OF MTN,ELEV 4700FT MSL,LVL FLT ATTITUDE.RCVRD 12/12/72.

The quote above came from a discussion at: http://www.desertusa.com/mb3/viewtopic. ... 348#p21348

On 10-24-2010 I, Cubfan64 (Paul), GeorgeW (George) & Somehiker (Wayne) made a hike up to the crash site, and found some additional pieces of the crash that I had not seen before.

With Paul being from Massachusetts, and Wayne being from Toronto, Canada. it was a rare opportunity for us all to spend some time on the trail together, in the Jesse Capen search area, and the site of the 1972 plane crash.

Image
Left to Right: George - Wayne - Paul - Jim... In Indian Spring Canyon

This morning George emailed me a link to the photos he took during the trip. They are at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/10792225478 ... f-LgKndkwE#

I will post my photos later after I get them uploaded to Photobucket.

Jim
Jim Hatt

Re: 1972 Plane Crash in Indian Spring Canyon

Post by Jim Hatt »

Debris field photos:

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silent hunter
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Re: 1972 Plane Crash in Indian Spring Canyon

Post by silent hunter »

you guy's forgot to mention Gypsy. How is her hip doing Jim? Is that who shot the photo of all four of you togather.

Best Wishes
Kurt Painter
Jim Hatt

Re: 1972 Plane Crash in Indian Spring Canyon

Post by Jim Hatt »

Hi Kurt,

Gypsy is all healed up and doing fine now.

That photo of the 4 of us together is a mystery isn't it? Actually it is the two different photos below "Photoshopped" into one. :mrgreen:

Image

Image


Can you tell which person was painted in?
Image
Best,

Jim
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Re: 1972 Plane Crash in Indian Spring Canyon

Post by silent hunter »

I forgot your awesome computer skills Jim. That is cool the trip looked like a great adventure! Me and my son are running the Verde this weekend I came across a map that was used by solders that where based at fort mcdowell,it has the perimeter outline of the location. We are going to try to autenticate it and find the four markers.

Best Wishes
Kurt Painter
Jim Hatt

Re: 1972 Plane Crash in Indian Spring Canyon

Post by Jim Hatt »

Hope you guys find what you're looking for Kurt!

GeorgeW and I are going to go look around in some "out of the way" places for the 3 missing men from Utah.

The weather should be great for whatever you are doing this weekend!

Best,

Jim
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Re: 1972 Plane Crash in Indian Spring Canyon

Post by silent hunter »

Are you just doing a day trip Jim? Or over night?? I may want to go hang for the day if three aint a crowd??


Best Wishes
Kurt Painter
Jim Hatt

Re: 1972 Plane Crash in Indian Spring Canyon

Post by Jim Hatt »

It will just be a day trip Kurt.

George doesn't have an overnight pass from the Mrs...
(You know how that works) :D
I am not planning on carrying anything but a canteen.
You are welcome to come along, if you want to.

I will send you an email with a "Flight Plan" in it. Bring you son too, if he wants to go. The more eyes looking around the better!

Jim
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Re: 1972 Plane Crash in Indian Spring Canyon

Post by silent hunter »

Hey Jim that sounds like a good idea. You can count on me to be there.
Send flight plan to aol email,I am leaving here at 1:oo p/m today
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Re: 1972 Plane Crash in Indian Spring Canyon

Post by cubfan64 »

Jim, George and Wayne - sorry I haven't commented on the trip yet, but work is already killing me after one day!!

I had a really good time climbing around with you guys to the plane crash site! It was a long day, and reminded me how out of shape I am, but I love "testing myself" out there. It was good to meet you both Jim and George (as well as Gypsy and Sandy).

Glad we were able to find what we were looking for up there - at least all but the chert vein.

Thanks for the invite to join you all.

Paul
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