The Hike To The TWA Flight 260 Crash Site

In this video, I document my hike to the remains of TWA Flight 260 with Boy Scout Troop 166. You'll see how we come across a rattlesnake, almost get rained out, and eventually complete an 11 mile round trip to the crash site.

[Johnnydoxx]

The bodies were recovered by volunteers from the ABQ rock climbing community, there was no organized Search And Rescue at that time.
This event led to the establishment (by a subgroup of that community) of the ABQ Search And Rescue entities, in particular the ABQ Mountain Rescue Council.
This is a tricky hike to find the wreckage - at one juncture, another route is enticing, and leads to a 600-ft cliff dead end .
Numerous people have been injured climbing that, to see if they could find the wreckage up there (where, of course, it is not).


Notably, there was not GPS during most of that timeframe, it is easier to stay on track now with the devices available.


I was a stalwart SAR volunteer there 1993 - 1998, participated in many rescue (and some recovery) missions there. Ranges from 6500 - 10, 678 feet altitude.
Good video. Glad you spotted that snake before it got upset.

[eastkingstonnh]

An experience that the boys will remember the rest of their lives.

[lisa]

Very well done.I've hiked that canyon a few times but never made it that far.. I'm surprised at the amount of wreckage that is still there!!

[TXBHenleyFan]

My great uncle was Ivan Spong, he was the pilot of this flight.

[ojofelixnm]

Much easier to drop down from Kiwanis hut. Little more difficult hiking back up. My brother and I did it one summer afternoon in 1966.I remember this accident very well as we lived on the east mesa and there wasn't much development beyond Wyoming . Juan Tabo was the only access to the north end of the Sandias and was not paved. I recall that darkness overtook several groups high up on the west face and a WWII searchlight was set up off of Juan Tabo to aid them.

[tammymartinez]

I’ve done that trail. You can hardly call it a trail. Never made it to the crash site! I’ve heard that you can connect the trail to the more popular la luz trail after the crash site but it’s very sketchy!

[dawnsimons]

To me this is a big part of wonderful childhood adventure

[pikachu]

Very interesting and how so terribly tragic! It would be more helpful if you could state Where it is and the Type of Aircraft involved in the accident!

[SKEptic-mgdd]

Sounds too similar to Flight 3 out of Las Vegas in 1942. A few more yards and they would have made it. Seems this plane had twin row radials where the one that killed Carole Lombard had single row engines (less power).

[justanothergaymer]

Is your troop (Troop 166) from Lakewood, CO?

[clarkdarden]

Where's the tram going to/coming from?

[mahogni]

Whats your mix settings for the Zoom iq6?

[lyon]

Do they receive a Medal for Outdoor Achievement for this hike and adventure?
This plane went down due to a failed Flux Capacitor, whoops, I mean a fluxgate

[hckyrules]

Nice use of the interstellar soundtrack!!

[derekpeterson]

You should have used some dramatic music in the background