C-45F Crash Site

USA / California / Clayton /
 invisible, aircraft crash site
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On the morning on April 8th, 1946, Lt. Woodrow W. Davis of the U.S. Army Air Corps departed from the airfield in Oakland on a flight to Los Angeles aboard Beech C-45F 44-87062. With him on this flight was Major William J. Kettler who was listed as a passenger on the Flight Plan. Lt. Davis' request for a Contact Flight Plan was denied due to poor weather conditions. Instead, he was issued an Instrument Flight Plan from Air Traffic Control with the following clearance, "Oakland Airways Traffic Control clears you to the Los Angeles tower. Take off west, climb on the northwest course of the Oakland Range, cross Fairfield at 3,000 feet, climb southwest on the southwest course of Fairfield range, southwest bound to 500 on top. Descend in accordance with contact flight rules to Los Angeles, or maintain 500 on top if not possible–remain 500 on top and advise–Over"

Lt. Davis' read back made sure the instructions were correct and was then he was told that he had to depart by 11:05 a.m. In other words, he had just seconds to think about and understand the clearance, then get into the air.

Once airborne, he made a right turn out as he was instructed. At 11:15, his aircraft, Army 7062, reported it's position and stated that he was at 3,000 feet on the northeast leg of the Oakland range. It appeared that Lt. Davis had misunderstood his flight clearance and turned in the wrong direction. This was the last radio contact with Army 7062. At 11:20, fifteen minutes after takeoff, Lt. Davis and Major Kettler flew their C-45F into the north side of Mount Diablo and were killed instantly, hurled out of their aircraft onto the hillside.

Due to the steep terrain, the plane was dynamited and the remains left in place. It was not until 2003 that the Park Service had the wreckage removed.

www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites/Diablo_C-45F_crash_site.h...
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Coordinates:   37°53'17"N   121°54'55"W

Comments

  • I have been to this crash site on Mt Diablo. The location on the map is actually way off from the aircrafts actual location. The park service did a very good job cleaning up, today the site is impossible to find except for the most experienced wreck chaser.
This article was last modified 7 years ago