ACCIDENT SYNOPSIS: What started out as a multi-day cross-country flight from Eugene, Oregon ended in tragedy in the depths of Grand Canyon. The father and son departed Boulder City, Nevada after a brief fuel stop. With no official flight plan in place, they would keep family members updated of their progress through a prearranged schedule. After a quick stop at the Pierce Ferry Airstrip, Willard Martin and his son Eric turned the vintage 1946 Piper J3 Cub and followed the Colorado River into the deep gorge of the Grand Canyon.
The bright yellow aircraft was seen by numerous helicopter tour pilots flying low and just above the river east of Kanab Point. A later review of the pilot's notes indicated the flight was to fly through the eastern portion of the Grand Canyon, making a turn to the north for about 40 nautical miles with a refueling stop at Kanab, Utah. Continuing up to Salt Lake City and Northern Nevada for their return trip to Oregon.
The flight never made it to Kanab. After four days, concerned family members notified the Federal Aviation Administration which in turn notified authorities to begin an aerial search operation. The initial search was unsuccessful.
Thirteen days after the aircraft made it's final flight, it was located by a military search and rescue helicopter about three miles from where it was last seen by a tour helicopter. The low-level Piper Cub had flown up into Crazy Jug Canyon and hit a steep cliff wall while trying to execute a 180 degree turn. The maneuver known by pilots as a "Widow Maker Turn". Both father and son were killed.
HISTORICAL SUMMARY:
A visit to this remote canyon site is moderately difficult. The hike requires a series 30-40 foot rappels through Crazy Jug Canyon negotiating the usual vertical pour-offs found in these narrow notch canyons. It appears that most if not all of the aircraft is still present at the site, but some components may be buried by silt due to floods.
The preservation of wreckage and the site in general remains in question due to it's location in the seasonal drainage. Although dry most of the year, seasonal flooding has caused erosion damage, movement of wreckage and the burial of a few structural components.
The bright yellow aircraft was seen by numerous helicopter tour pilots flying low and just above the river east of Kanab Point. A later review of the pilot's notes indicated the flight was to fly through the eastern portion of the Grand Canyon, making a turn to the north for about 40 nautical miles with a refueling stop at Kanab, Utah. Continuing up to Salt Lake City and Northern Nevada for their return trip to Oregon.
The flight never made it to Kanab. After four days, concerned family members notified the Federal Aviation Administration which in turn notified authorities to begin an aerial search operation. The initial search was unsuccessful.
Thirteen days after the aircraft made it's final flight, it was located by a military search and rescue helicopter about three miles from where it was last seen by a tour helicopter. The low-level Piper Cub had flown up into Crazy Jug Canyon and hit a steep cliff wall while trying to execute a 180 degree turn. The maneuver known by pilots as a "Widow Maker Turn". Both father and son were killed.
HISTORICAL SUMMARY:
A visit to this remote canyon site is moderately difficult. The hike requires a series 30-40 foot rappels through Crazy Jug Canyon negotiating the usual vertical pour-offs found in these narrow notch canyons. It appears that most if not all of the aircraft is still present at the site, but some components may be buried by silt due to floods.
The preservation of wreckage and the site in general remains in question due to it's location in the seasonal drainage. Although dry most of the year, seasonal flooding has caused erosion damage, movement of wreckage and the burial of a few structural components.
A section of the aircraft's right wing and support strut is almost completely buried under washed down sand and rocks.
A portion of the aircraft's instrument panel bears the original "NC" registration number. This is a common practice for antique aircraft dated 1946 or older.
Looking through the crumpled aircraft cabin, I noticed that a lap seatbelt was still buckled.
A close-up photo of the buckled seatbelt.
From the remaining wreckage present at the site, it appears that much of the aircraft is still present at the site, although severely mangled by impact and erosion damage.
A portion of the main landing gear tubing projects from a pile of debris.
An overall view of the wreckage debris from Piper Cub "N6566H". This accident was a preventable case of a poorly planned and reckless flight.
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