September 15, 1944: USAAF Consolidated TB-24J (42-50890), Humphreys Peak, San Francisco Peaks, AZ

It was just after midnight on Sept 15, 1944. The Consolidated TB-24J Liberator (42-50890), a training version of the famed strategic bomber was cleared from Bakersfield, California to Kirtland Army Air Field in New Mexico. The night training flight was scheduled to be a routine event. According to the USAAF accident report, the aircraft was off-course by approximately 15 miles north of the prescribed airway.

The airplane collided with the west slope of Humphreys Peak at about 11,300 feet in elevation. A dark moonless night with overcast clouds at 6,000 feet contributed to the accident. All four engines were developing cruise power at impact. A total of eight servicemen died in the 3:30 AM crash:

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The wreckage of 42-50890 is still located and accessible by foot on the west side of Humphreys Peak. Even though this crash site is the most well known of all the wrecks in the area, It's location is somewhat elusive as there are multiple talus/rock fields on this side of the mountain. My first visit to the crash site was during the spring of 1991. I have recently returned to further document the site. It is interesting to compare the changes to the site in the span of 22 years.

Wreckage of the aircraft is scattered for about 1/4 mile up the talus field. I was able to locate an impact crater. The large crater has some rocks around it that are displaced and cracked. Molten aluminum is found everywhere suggesting a large intense fire erupted after impact.

THE AIRCRAFT

The aircraft involved was a Consolidated TB-24J Liberator (42-50890). Both aircraft and crew were part of the 3007th AAF Base Unit stationed at Kirtland Field, New Mexico.
Of the five military aircraft that crashed on the San Francisco Peaks during World War 2, the TB-24J was more technically advanced in regards to navigation and instrumentation.
B24 Cockpit USAF
15 MILES OFF COURSE

Yet, even with all of the advanced navigation technology of the 1940s, aviation was still subject to human error.

Even today, a heading error of a few degrees or lack of compensation for wind drift can make the difference between life and death.
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THE CRASH SITE - SEPTEMBER 1944

Part of the tail section and the right side stabilizer fin is recognizable in this Army photo.
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The lack of shadows in these crash scene photos suggests that the weather was still cloudy when they were taken by the Army accident investigators.
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THE CRASH SITE - APRIL 1991

This aerial photo taken before my initial hike to the crash site shows a trail of wreckage debris and a wing section with a painted star and bar insignia. (1991)
These were the days when portable GPS was a rare luxury that I didn't have. We used a simple map and compass to locate and hike to this site.

Here my friend Scott Featherstone takes a compass heading we will use to triangulate the location. (1991)
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This piece of fuselage structure was easily identifiable with it's two stacked windows. (1991)
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Large fragments of aircraft fuselage structure have been carried down into the treeline over time by rock slides and snow. (1991)
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Looking up at the talus slope, wreckage can be be seen in the distance.
Scott Featherstone seen here examining fragments of the aircraft. (1991)
The TB-24's right-side outer wing displays the USAAF star and bar insignia on it's lower side. (1991)
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This propeller and hub was damaged by impact. Other propellers were located at the site were further destroyed by vandals who decided to hacksaw random blades off for souvenirs. (1991)
This propeller hub still contained lubrication grease in the pitch gears. (1991)
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Examining one of the four Pratt and Whitney R-1830 Turbosupercharged radial engines. Each engine was capable of producing 1,200 horsepower. (1991)
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The Pratt and Whitney engine "Eagle" logo can be seen on this engine casing. (1991)
Scott Featherstone seen here examining a part of the lower left-side wing structure with the retracted main landing gear and wheel assembly. (1991)
Someone (more than one person) went to great effort to extend the main landing gear assembly from the wheel well. (2013)
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One of the few personal items seen at the site was this crewmember's tool box. (1991)
This horizontal stabilizer from the aircraft's tail section once had a stabilizer fin attached with the aircraft number. It had been cut by vandals years prior for a souvenir. History lost. (1991)
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