somehiker wrote:Jim:
The wreckage in your photos is that of a Mooney M20 that hit Tortilla Mtn. at 4700 ft. on Dec 8,1972.The 60yr. old pilot was on a flight from Clifton/Morencey to Phoenix.
The last photo is of the top section of engine cowling.The "PC" on the cowling indicates that this A/C was equipped with the Mooney "positive control system",an automatic wing leveler.
I'm sure that a hike up to the location would be interesting.
Regards:Wayne
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3-3738 72/12/8 NR.APACHE JCTN,ARIZ MOONEY M20E CR- 1 0 0 NONCOMMERCIAL PRIVATE, AGE 60, 350
TIME - 1820 N6019Q PX- 0 0 0 PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP TOTAL HOURS, 344 IN TYPE,
DAMAGE-DESTROYED OT- 0 0 0 NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
DEPARTURE POINT INTENDED DESTINATION
CLIFTON-MORNCI,ARIZ PHOENIX,ARIZ
TYPE OF ACCIDENT PHASE OF OPERATION
COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
FACTOR(S)
WEATHER - OTHER
WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
SKY CONDITION CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED 4000
VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED) NONE
OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE TEMPERATURE-F
NONE 53
WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
110 3
TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
VFR NONE
REMARKS- OBSCURED MTN TOPS FCSTD.HIT UPSLOPE SIDE OF MTN,ELEV 4700FT MSL,LVL FLT ATTITUDE.RCVRD 12/12/72.
The quote above came from a discussion at: http://www.desertusa.com/mb3/viewtopic. ... 348#p21348
On 10-24-2010 I, Cubfan64 (Paul), GeorgeW (George) & Somehiker (Wayne) made a hike up to the crash site, and found some additional pieces of the crash that I had not seen before.
With Paul being from Massachusetts, and Wayne being from Toronto, Canada. it was a rare opportunity for us all to spend some time on the trail together, in the Jesse Capen search area, and the site of the 1972 plane crash.

Left to Right: George - Wayne - Paul - Jim... In Indian Spring Canyon
This morning George emailed me a link to the photos he took during the trip. They are at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/10792225478 ... f-LgKndkwE#
I will post my photos later after I get them uploaded to Photobucket.
Jim