September 18, 1944: USAAF, Boeing B-17G (42-102899), Abineau Peak, San Francisco Peaks, AZ
IN MEMORY OF
1st. Lt. Richard Howell (Pilot)
Co-Pilot 2nd. Lt. Richard Davis (Co-Pilot)
Flight Officer Lafayette Brown (Co-Pilot-Training)
Sgt. Edmund Sikora (Flight Engineer)
Around 8:15 PM, near Flagstaff, Arizona the aircraft experienced an inflight fire or fires which spread to the tail section of the aircraft. The aircraft was witnessed to climb while maneuvering towards the area of Abineau Peak. Before the crew could make a successful escape by parachute, the aircraft struck a ridge line and tall pine trees at 11,700' severing the tail section. The fragmenting aircraft continued down the steep slopes of Bear Jaw Canyon with no survivors.
The accident investigation revealed evidence of an inflight fire which caused damage to the left elevator control surface. However, due to the complete destruction of the aircraft, a source and probable cause of the fire could not be determined. The flight crew, distracted by the fire and the dark night, probably never saw the mountain they struck.
***********************************************************************************************************************************
I began my hike up to this accident site in July 2013 with fellow historic aircraft accident researcher Chris McDoniel. Because we were attempting this hike in the middle of Arizona's monsoon season, we decided to start early to avoid the storms in the afternoon.
THE AIRCRAFT
The Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (42-102899) was stationed at the Kingman Army Airfield in Kingman, Arizona.
Sgt. Sikora, at top left, in front of his B-17 Flying Fortress at Kingman AAF. http://www.aircraftarchaeology.com
Sgt. Ed Sikora just a few days before his final flight. http://www.aircraftarchaeology.com
Barney Tillpath, the Fire Watchman on duty at Deadman Fire Lookout reported seeing the plane circling the peaks with engine trouble.
By coincidence, Barney Tillpath also reported the TB-24J crash just three days prior.
CRASH SITE - 1944
Looking along the western slope of Bear Jaw Canyon. This photo was taken during the military's accident investigation in 1944.
The severed tail section as seen in 1944 rests just below the ridge-line of Bear Jaw Canyon.
JULY 2013 - WATERLINE ROAD
Our hiking route to the crash site took us along Waterline Road. This road contours along the North side of the San Francisco Peaks. The road sustained flood and slide damage from recent Monsoon storms.
A view of Lockett Meadow where we began our hike up the mountain.
The hike up Bear Jaw Canyon started out with a gentle slope up, but soon progressed very steeply.
The hike up to the 11,700' ridge line was a consistent 50 degree slope with loose rock, boulders, and gravel.
It wasn't long before we started locating fragments on our climb up. The sound of distant thunder from an approaching storm could also be heard.
INITIAL POINT OF IMPACT - 11,700 FEET
Reaching the crest of Abineau Ridge, fragments of the B-17's wing and tail section could be seen in a confined area indicating the bomber's initial impact point.
The B-17 trees at this location and began to disintegrate as it pitched nose first into Bear Jaw Canyon.
Following the trail of wreckage, we began our hike down the steep canyon slope.
This fragment of engine cylinder and exhaust manifold indicates the aircraft's wings were being ripped apart by the trees as it tumbled down the slope.
Sheets of aircraft aluminum skin from the B-17's wings and fuselage were found compressed into accordion shapes by impact.
Impact from trees and rocks proved un-forgiving to the doomed Flying Fortress.
A portion of an elevator control surface was once part of the B-17's tail section.
Chris negotiating the steep slopes down Bear Jaw Canyon.
Part of a fuselage window frame and Plexiglas fragments from the B-17.
We found other shards of window glass. Some Plexiglass and some bonded window glass.
A part of the "Truss" type wing spar.
A prop hub cover displaying it's sling ring that distributed the anti-ice alcohol to the propeller blades.
A caste engine case fragment with multiple inspection numbers and stamps from Wright Aeronautical. The engine's manufacturer.
A fragment of a self-sealing rubber fuel tank bladder.
The top end of the B-17's vertical stabilizer.
This was not only a training aircraft, but also a war ready aircraft. Sheets of bullet and flak resistant steel armor were installed in crew locations throughout the interior cabin.
Another sheet of heavy steel armor.
A fractured door panel. Not sure if this is a bombay door.
Inspecting a flight control surface fragment.
IMPACT SITE / BURN AREA - 10,800 FEET
Looking up-slope towards main fuselage burn area.
One of the B-17's main landing gear and wheel assemblies.
A few fragments of some crew memorial markers that were place at the crash site many years ago.
Chris spots a very small item on the ground.
The tail-wheel gear was located with other debris in the burn area.
A reminder of the human toll from this accident was seeing this parachute harness buckle.
A parachute D-ring and cord divot. There was opportunity for the crew to bail out of the burning aircraft, but the mountain called first.
Engine components were scattered in various locations. This Turbo Governor regulated the RPM speed of one of the four engine turbosuperchargers.
A fragment of a bomb sight shows a drift scale.
The other main landing gear and wheel assembly was found on the left side of the gulley.
The rubber tires long burned away from either the crash or an old forest fire. Nothing left but the steel cords.
This caste part is marked "BOEING" for the aircraft's Seattle, Washington based manufacturer.
A propeller reduction gear and shaft.
This Wright R-1820 "Cyclone" Radial Engine tumbled a good thousand feet down the canyon and wedged itself between two Aspen Trees.
An radial engine mount ring and cowl fragment.
These two Pressure Transmitters were located within this engine cowl fragment.
An engine Fuel Booster Pump.
