Hiking to a 1950's CIA Plane Wreck of an SA-16 Albatross

Been wanting to hike to this plane crash site for years, and finally made the trip up seeing that the weather was going to cooperate. I figured it would take me at least 9 or 10 hours to hike roundtrip. Next time I definitely want to spend a night out there so I can check out the wreckage below the main impact site. This was the first time I've used my drone for filming purposes, and I've got to say I'm impressed! Amazing that this 1950's crash is still relatively intact after all these decades. Hope y'all enjoy this one!

[rebzdomine]

Great and unique content! Thank you for this video.

[williamlloyd]

All 6 persons on the CIA flight training mission in the SA-16 Albatross were able to parachute out and survived the incident according to Death Valley web site pages on the crash.
PS — Thanks for posting this video!

[jamesriggsdds]

The white wire with the insulators is an antenna that’s mounted on the outside skin of the aircraft. The yellow box is part of the avionics (ie. aircraft electronics). Looks like maybe a transmitter as it has two ceramic insulated posts on one end. Quite possibly an emergency survival type radio as I recall seeing some in the early ‘60s very much like it. The “light” looks like an engine turbo-charger at first glance. But it’s a bit small and is driven by an electric motor which makes it a ventilation motor for the crew and or the avionics. Best guess would be for forced air off an onboard gas fired heater. It gets real cold up at altitude. 🥶 With twin engine aircraft you generally don’t get bleed air off an engine for heat so, with few exceptions, they used onboard heaters. Too bad you didn’t find a number plate on the engine. About almost 48, 000 of that type of engine was produced from multiple manufacturers (even Studebaker!) and countries. Caterpillar even made a Diesel engine version (D200) for the M4 Sherman. Great explore. Good job!

[christophersanders]

Back in the mid-90's I was hiking around the mountains just North of Anza, Ca, and I came across what I think was the wreckage of an A-6 Intruder. According to what I could find on the wreck the plane was coming back from a training mission in the late 60's or early-70's heading towards Miramar Naval Station when the plane had mechanical issues. The pilot safely ejected.

[hondaman]

Cool video. Thank you. And THANK YOU for not posting crappy royalty free music overtop the drone shots.

[Iconoclasher]

The "searchlight" at 18:15 is a pump of some sort. The electrical part on the backside is the motor.

[deathvalley]

I VISITED THIS AIRCRAFT 40 YEARS AGO. IT WAS MUCH MORE INTACT.
GREAT VIDEO, THE BEST ONE I’VE SEEN. EXCELLENT PHOTOGRAPHY. YOUR CAMERA DID A GREAT JOB. WONDERHUSSY AND HER SISTER VISITED THE SITE SEVERAL YEARS AGO. SHE DID A VIDEO THAT IS ON HER CHANNEL.

[gregkingsley]

Thanks for the video. I used to do hikes, but age and injuries will not let me do them so thanks for taking me on your hike-so cool!

[edwardaustin]

Man these beautiful views are most definitely appreciated. Another great episode.

[s]

Engines always roll down the hill after detaching in a crash, the other is probably at the bottom. I live on the side of Mt. Tamalpais in N CA and we have two Corsairs, a B-17 (only one engine left) and a lot of wreckage of a PBM-5 Mariner seaplane. I found one Corsair engine in a creek, the rangers say they are up higher and someone stole a whole wing in the 90's. The story about the B-17 is interesting, it was cleaned up quickly but locals took pieces of it before they could haul it all away, it was supposedly carrying detonators for the atomic bombs. The Corsairs were pilots in training and they hit each other but they both bailed out and made it. I grew up on Oahu and I know where engines from Pearl Harbor are grown up into trees.

[robm]

Back in the early 80s my friend & I made that hike, at the time we were both HU-16 flight mechs in the Coast Guard.
It was a memorable hike and took way longer than we expected.
It was neat seeing it & the slagged radios on the radio rack, we figured the radios were destroyed by the CIA crew before they jumped. There were a lot of great souvenirs there but it was a long walk so any souvenirs had to be easy to carry.
Boy was he correct about not wanting to hike back in the dark! That part was memorable...even today, 40+ years later I can remember going back to where we parked.

[melissasmess]

Poor aircraft, it almost made it over the mountains. There is the remnants of a B-17 close to where I live that almost made it over the mountains as well after World War II, no survivors, engine cylinders and a battery is about all there is left, people have carried off plane for scrap and souvenirs unfortunately. Thank you for sharing!

[cantpassthebar]

Looks like an amazing place to visit. Thanks for taking us with you!

[ronjones]

Looks like the engine found was not turning at time of impact or the blades would be twisted and snapped off. I used to play in a crashed B29 in Moses Point Alaska in the early 60’s. Was on its way to Russia in WW2. Located close to White Mountain on Norton Sound east of Nome

[Ricochet]

Awesome hike and video! I had heard about this accident site as my late dad and I frequented Death Valley quite a bit. I'm glad I got to see your video as that hike is not something I would have ever undertaken. Great video again! Thanks.

[MrGoesBoom]

I know it's a remote location but amazing/weird that something like this is just sitting out there. Thanks for sharing!

[steeliewheelies]

Thanks for doing this and thanks for making it back safely & sharing with us

[electrolytics]

Very good, please don't take risks with your hiking. Plan it for safety and stick to the plan. Cool find. Thank you.

[ltform]

Awesome as usual, thanks again for providing a worthwhile watch.

[blusnuby]

I was hoping you would have sent your drone down that ravine to film the other debris field. That would be easier than another hike & a LOT less chance for for the share !