I think I found a piece of a plane in a wilderness area in the mountains

[kstan]

I have several years of experience working with and around aircraft as a wildland firefighter. I've mostly worked with helicopters bit I've spent some time around various kinds of fixed wing aircraft.

 

Today while hiking out of a fire in the middle of a wilderness area where there's no trails, roads, towns or any sign of human activity. While walking my co worker stumbled upon a price of metal that looks alot like a part to an airplane. I researched aviaation accidents in the area and there's been several plane crashes near by over the years. I was hoping somebody might be able to identify the part and possibly point me in the right direction of where to find information. I found the part outside of Eagleville CA, and so far I've been researching a crash that happened in 2001 (N900RA). I was hoping to find a picture of the plane and compare the paintjob I'm the picture to that of the piece I found. Anyways, here's a picture of the part.

 

 

 

 

[red750]

Hi kstan,

 

At the time of the crash you refer to, N900RA registration was allocated to an Aero Commander 500S (photo here: https://photovault.com/159276 )

 

According to FAA Registry records, the registration was cancelled on 4/29/2002 with reason - Destroyed. See below.

 

 

 

[kstan]

Ya, I saw that during my research. It's the nearest crash from where i found the part, only thing is that the NTSB report has some details about the crash site that aren't realling jiving with where I found the part. The crash was at Eagle Peak, which is south from where I found the part and the plane had been on a northerly heading up until the crash

 

 

[turboplanner]

It looks like an inspection panel; if so there should be some sign of its fastening method.

 

The color scheme and trim look like late 1950s Cessna.

 

If it is an inspection panel which hadn't been attached correctly, the aircraft could have continued hundreds of miles (assuming the burn marks are from a forest fire some tine in the last 60 years or so.

 

 

[kstan]

The burn marks are likely from a wildfire, since all the accident reports from NTSB for aircraft crashes in that area make no mention of a pre or post accident fire. Still is kind of weird though, cause I didn't see any real evidence of a wildfire being in that particular area. Usually you find small peices of burnt wood, or stumps or something even from really old fires. Perhaps I didn't look hard enough though. Anyways, I'll attach some more photos of it. On one end there seems to be edges that kind of protrude perpendicular to the main structure of the peice, and on that same end there's a very small hole that runs right into the peice length wise and it has a little plastic housing. I'd really like to get this postively identified as a peice to a plane though, because so far my research into crashes in that area are a bit inconclusive.

 

 

 

 

 

[M61A1]

Looks very much like a blade antenna, although I can't see an BNC or TNC fitting. Perhaps it has been broken off?

 

 

[kstan]

The edge of it where the little hole is does look a little rough like perhaps it was broken off. Is there a better way I could take a picture of it so you might be able to see those fittings if they're on there? What exactly is a blade antenna? Is it a communications only type of device or does it have anything to do with being able to keep the plane flying? I'm starting to wonder if the plane this came off of didn't crash at all and it's just a random part that fell off in flight

 

 

[M61A1]

If you google "aircraft blade antenna" images , you will see the wide variety of types. Usually VHF/UHF, they are for radio and navigation. I have seen antennas that look similar to the bit you have, but not burned. It appears to have the rubbery/plastic edge protection on the front and rear edges. If its broken at the attachment end perhaps they knocked it off on a tree?

 

 

[Nightmare]

If you suspect you've found a piece of an aircraft from an accident, have you contacted the FAA or NTSB? If not, you should do so at your earliest convenience. It may unlock some answers to some tragedy and provide closure to friends and family of those affected.

 

 

[mnewbery]

You might like to contact Pat Macha

 

514 Aircraft Crash Sites - Airplane Geeks Podcast - The weekly audio podcast that explores and expands your passion for aviation.

 

 

[Downunder]

[facthunter]

There's a DC-4 LH landing gear door somewhere in Northern Tassie that I was involved with. They wouldn't allow a permit to fly from Smithton to Melbourne with it missing either. Planes don't have to crash to have bits on the ground. Nev

 

 

[kstan]

I'm pretty well convinced it probably has nothing to do with a crash. I may try and contact the NTSB anyways though just to see. Thank you for the help everybody!