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Aircraft Wrecks in the Mountains and Deserts of the American West Mooney M20C
On December 31, 1976 a Mooney M20C N6423U departed Big Bear City Airport en route to Meadowlark Airport in Huntington Beach with only the pilot aboard. Immediately after take off the windshield fogged up, and the pilot found himself flying blind. While trying desperately to return to the airport a wing struck a tree on a mountainside causing the plane to spin around and impact the mountain tail first. The pilot survived without injury, and walked back to his cabin in Big Bear City without reporting the accident. The next day the wrecked Mooney was spotted, reported, and investigated. The local sheriff's were shocked to find no pilot. The pilot was located later at his home where had some explaining to do. Most, but not all of the wreck was removed in January 1977. Dave Trimble found what was left of N6423U while on a recent day hike, and reported it to me. My son and I visited the site on 12/27/05, and the photos below show some of what we found.
Click on thumbnail to see large view! |
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 Patric J. Macha holds door panel from N6423U. |
 Two views of the engine cowl of N6423U. Top view.
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 Interior view. |
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