Lost and Found Aircraft Galleries

06/03/01 Piper PA-28-181 N8253W near Lytle Creek, CA (FOUND 09/21/08 near LYTLE CREEK, CA) : On June 3, 2001, sometime after 1932 hours Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Piper PA-28-181, N8253W, became missing in the vicinity of Lytle Creek, California, on a flight from Perris Valley to Laverne, California. The airplane departed Perris Valley Airport at 1915 en route to Brackett Field in Laverne. Air Desert Pacific operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and rented it to the pilot for a personal flight. The operator reported the airplane was overdue on June 6 and the airplane had not been located as of June 14. The private pilot, the sole occupant, is missing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. No additional information is available. The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: Undetermined. ************************************************************ It was confirmed this morning that the plane wreckage found on Saturday is in fact the missing Piper PA-28 that went missing in June, 2001. The wreckage was spotted on Saturday by a county sheriff's helicopter on the north slope of Cucamonga Peak, at the 5,700 foot level on an isolated escarpment. The helicopter was on a "routine patrol" in the area. On Sunday, eight members of the San Bernardino Sheriff's office and a county coroner were flown to the crash site where they confirmed the registration number of the missing plane. The fragmented, skeletal remains of what is believed to be the pilot were found, "within 400 feet of the plane". The recovery of the aircraft took place on 10/3/08. Thank you to fellow wreckchaser Ryan Gilmore for the opportunity to post these photos of the recovery operation.

06/03/01 Piper PA-28-181 N8253W near Lytle Creek, CA (FOUND 09/21/08 near LYTLE CREEK, CA)

On June 3, 2001, sometime after 1932 hours Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Piper PA-28-181, N8253W, became missing in the vicinity of Lytle Creek, California, on a flight from Perris Valley to Laverne, California. The airplane departed Perris Valley Airport at 1915 en route to Brackett Field in Laverne. Air Desert Pacific operated the airp ...

Updated: Oct 07, 2008 12:46pm PST

09/21/03 Beechcraft F33A Debonair N927JL near Greer, AZ : Family members and friends of the pilot said that he had departed the southern California area. He landed at Mesa, Arizona, to refuel, and had departed at approximately 1130 MDT. Radar data last recorded the airplane at N33 degrees, 42', 06.1"; W110 degrees, 39', 11.8". The aircraft was at 7,600 feet, and traveling at 142 knots ground speed. The pilot did talk with the ARTCC control approximately 3 minutes after the last radar return, and he was told to contact Albuquerque Center (ARTCC) over St John, Arizona. His last position and heading indicated that the airplane was flying into rising mountainous terrain, with elevations topping at 11,250 feet. The Civil Air Patrol units of New Mexico and Arizona flew extensive searches for the missing aircraft, but the airplane was never found. The search was suspended on October 18, 2003.

09/21/03 Beechcraft F33A Debonair N927JL near Greer, AZ

Family members and friends of the pilot said that he had departed the southern California area. He landed at Mesa, Arizona, to refuel, and had departed at approximately 1130 MDT. Radar data last recorded the airplane at N33 degrees, 42', 06.1"; W110 degrees, 39', 11.8". The aircraft was at 7,600 feet, and traveling at 142 knots ground spe ...

Updated: Sep 04, 2008 12:53am PST

09/24/06 Cessna 182Q N2700Q near Sedona, AZ (FOUND 04/19/09 near Sycamore Canyon, AZ) : On Sunday, September 24, 2006, at 10:43 am, a 1966 Cessna 182, N2700Q, departed Deer Valley Airport near Phoenix (DVT) with full fuel tanks and disappeared. Although no flight plan was filed, it is believed the aircraft was headed for Sedona (SEZ) and was expected to return to Deer Valley that same afternoon or evening. A radar contact that dropped off-screen approximately 9 NM SW of Sedona (SEZ), south of Oak Creek Canyon, is thought to have been the missing plane, and this where search efforts have mainly been concentrated. The pilot, William Westover, age 54, is a white male, 5 feet 11 inches tall, 230 pounds with whitish grey hair, brown eyes and scars on his left forearm. The passenger, Marcy Randolph, age 43, is a white female, 5 feet 3 inches tall, 115 pounds with blonde hair and green eyes.

09/24/06 Cessna 182Q N2700Q near Sedona, AZ (FOUND 04/19/09 near Sycamore Canyon, AZ)

On Sunday, September 24, 2006, at 10:43 am, a 1966 Cessna 182, N2700Q, departed Deer Valley Airport near Phoenix (DVT) with full fuel tanks and disappeared. Although no flight plan was filed, it is believed the aircraft was headed for Sedona (SEZ) and was expected to return to Deer Valley that same afternoon or evening. A radar contact ...

Updated: May 07, 2009 10:46pm PST

09/03/07 Super Decathlon N240R near Yerington, NV (FOUND 10/1/08 near MAMMOTH LAKES, CA) : On September 3, 2007, at approximately 1200 Pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 8KCAB-180, N240R, was reported overdue/missing near Yerington, Nevada. The airline transport pilot (Steve Fossett) was the sole occupant on board. The airplane has not yet been found. The Flying M Hunting Club Inc. was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight, which originated at approximately 0900. No flight plan had been filed. Friends of the pilot said that he was on a reconnaissance flight to look at some of the regional dry lakebeds. He was scheduled to return to the Flying M Ranch by 1200. When the pilot failed to return, a search for the aircraft commenced immediately. There were no known emergency radio transmissions from the airplane, nor were any ELT transmissions received. **************************************************************************************************************************************** UPDATE: Personal items were located by a hiker on September 29, 2008. The aircraft wreckage was located by a search team on October 1, 2008.

09/03/07 Super Decathlon N240R near Yerington, NV (FOUND 10/1/08 near MAMMOTH LAKES, CA)

On September 3, 2007, at approximately 1200 Pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 8KCAB-180, N240R, was reported overdue/missing near Yerington, Nevada. The airline transport pilot (Steve Fossett) was the sole occupant on board. The airplane has not yet been found. The Flying M Hunting Club Inc. was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR P ...

Updated: Oct 07, 2008 1:03pm PST

12/21/07 Cessna 310 N28836 Miami, OK (FOUND 06/15/08 near GLENWOOD, NM) : On December 21, 2007, about 1500 mountain standard time (date and time are estimated), a twin-engine Cessna 310, N28836, collided with mountainous terrain near Glenwood, New Mexico. The non-certificated pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane's registration is listed as pending. No flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 cross country flight. Reports indicated that the airplane was last seen at the Miami Municipal Airport (MIO), Miami, Oklahoma on December 20, 2007. According to officials, the airplane was seized by authorities, on December 20, 2007. The airplane was then reported as missing/stolen on January 5th, 2008. The airplane wreckage was discovered by hikers in June 2008. The wreckage was reportedly scattered in a heavily forested area. Additionally, the airplane is reported to have impacted numerous trees before coming to rest at the base of a large tree. The accident site was absent indications of a post-crash fire. The wreckage lies within the Gila Wilderness area, New Mexico, about 711 nautical miles from MIO. A review of refueling records, indicate that the aircraft was fueled with $100.62 worth of fuel on December 21, 2007, (1249 CST), at Borger, Texas. An examination of records on file with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airmen's record branch in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, indicates that the pilot held a single-engine commercial airplane pilot's license. A flight instructor certificate, with an expiration date of August 31, 1975, is also listed. Additionally, a mechanic and ground instructor certificates were on file. The file also shows the pilot and instructor certificates had been revoked. The record lists his last FAA second-class flight medical was on March 15, 1995, at which time the pilot reported a total of 1,500-hours flight time. The accident site was in excess of 125 nautical miles from surrounding weather radar facilities, which resulted in poor low-level weather coverage of the region. However, light precipitation east and southeast of the accident area were noted. Additionally, the Weather Depiction and Radar Summary charts indicated patchy instrument flight rules/marginal visual flight rules with light rain or snow over western New Mexico and northeastern Arizona. Weather conditions showed a strong cold front and associated deep trough aloft moving into New Mexico on December 21. The data also indicated that the front was likely located in vicinity of the accident area around the estimated accident time. Specifically, west-northwest winds were in the vicinity and west of the accident location, and southwesterly winds to the east The infrared satellite temperature data was enhanced to show cloud tops near the mountain-top level in the accident area and above. The high terrain near the accident site (about 10,000 feet) was likely obscured at the accident time. An AIRMET (Airmen's Meteorological Information), weather advisory had been issued for mountain obscuration and moderate turbulence for the accident region.

12/21/07 Cessna 310 N28836 Miami, OK (FOUND 06/15/08 near GLENWOOD, NM)

On December 21, 2007, about 1500 mountain standard time (date and time are estimated), a twin-engine Cessna 310, N28836, collided with mountainous terrain near Glenwood, New Mexico. The non-certificated pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane's registration is listed as pending. No flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of F ...

Updated: Nov 10, 2008 12:14am PST