TWA Flight 260 crash site hike- Domingo Baca Canyon - Sandia Mountains New Mexico

This video describes the route to the site where TWA flight 260 crashed on February 19th, 1955 ten minutes after leaving the Albuquerque airport and headed for Santa Fe. The crash killed all 16 people on board: 3 crew members and 13 passengers. The names of the deceased are listed on a small plaque at the crash site. The hiking route leaves from the Elena Gallegos picnic area and follows Domingo Baca Canyon, climbing approximately 2400 feet over 3.5 miles to the wreckage, making the hike 7 or 8 miles long in total depending on how much exploring you do at the site. The only tricky part about the route is a key turnoff out of the stream bed you will be following which could be easily missed. The turnoff is about 0.2 miles past an old rock walled shelter that the trail passes, where you then scramble up about a 20 foot embankment. Once you find this junction the trail is fairly easy to follow for the remaining 1.6 miles to the crash site. Here are the coordinates for the key turnoff. N 35° 10.886' W 106° 27.594'

[williamwintemberg]

Such a sad video. You guys showed the respect this site deserves. Sad as it is and was, the scenery is beautiful. Thanks Tom and Julie!

[veronicawong]

Hi Tom! Just visited the Tramway today and lots of people were telling me to look out for the plane crash.. unfortunately I wasn’t able to see it but I’m SO grateful to find your video! Very awesome, thanks for sharing!!

[pmae]

The stills are great, it's one of the things I enjoy about your channel.

[herrdrayer]

After the crash, TWA removed the most identifiable parts of the plane, including all the seats, most of the fuselage, the human remains, and any aluminum with the TWA logo. More debris was removed when the tram was built, but when the trees aren't too leafy, tram passengers can usually see a shard of aluminum or two as the car passes directly over the site. Hikers know they're close because the cables are directly above the debris. From what I understand, the main reason the entire crash wasn't cleared up boiled down to the cost of hauling it out from such an inaccessible location. I suspect that most of the pieces under the rock overhang halfway through the wreckage was tucked away there to be less visible from the tram. I hiked it just a couple months before the pandemic lockdown, and the video doesn't come close to illustrating the altitude gain and how much it tires a person not accustomed to high altitude hiking. I live in Minnesota, and during the last mile, I stopped every thousand feet or so to catch my breath. My in-law who has lived in ABQ his whole life was very patient with me. By the way, taking the tram back down is not a viable option most of the year. The trail to the top of the ridge is another 2, 000 feet uphill, with a much higher level of difficulty due to steep slopes rendered nearly impassible in summer due to foliage growth and in winter due to snow combined with the path being far less worn in by use.

[LivingtheDream]

Great video. Yes, it is very sobering to see that crash site. Thanks Tom. Enjoyed the video.

[pmae]

That one radial engine was amazingly complete.

[astrogtr]

Quite sobering. You did a very good job on this video. Never felt I could hike 7 miles with such a gain of altitude, so I've never done that one.

[levelat]

I have hiked to that Crash Site twice. I very respectfully ask and wonder, where did that chair come from?

[TXBHenleyFan]

My great uncle was Ivan Spong. The pilot.

[lynn]

Nice video definitely have to check this out!!

[pmae]

Thank you Tom for calling that engine an engine, it's a pet peeve of mine to not call engines motors.

[jonathonapodaca]

Great video, I'm gonna have to go check this place out in person.

[williammoon]

I am planning to visit with my son and 5yr grandson is this a good idea to try

[blogengeezer]

-When the Tram was being built 1965, they removed from view, much of the visible, identifiable parts of the airplane. Thus the larger parts are in a different location from where the Martin 404 lay for many years.
Hikers looting, have also dropped many parts along the trail on the way back down. Weighty Carburetors, looted by teenagers, were left a long way down slope, from where they originally dropped. 'Migrating' parts following, were scattered throughout residents and tourists home collections, garages, sheds, junk piles.. with their meanings forgotten.
ATC Regional controllers years later, surmise the pilots had entered clouds, gotten on the wrong side of the beacon from Santa Fe, then lost the shaded signal below the high crest. 'Shear edge phenomena' ;}

[davidkuehl]

Sad for sure. Pretty canyon and very interesting video. Life is precious and not to be taken for granted. Be careful you two explorers.

[akporta]

I couldn't make out why you were touching the wreckage...

[rusticrangebear]

hiked this trail 2 years ago, while coming back down came across a black bear. bring spray luckily he was not interested in me or it might have been bad.

[vickiausten]

always sad, we have been to a few here. just sad.

[melthedog]

Today i think they would have taken allot more of the plane but it looks like they got most of the cockpit equipment...

[jebb]

I saw pieces wreckage while on the tram