I'm going on a quest to find my grandparents plane crash site.

[birdsandbees]

Skip, do you have a picture of what the marshal badge looked like and are you positive your grandpa's gun was a walther? My email friend at the other end is asking. Maybe he knows more. Perhaps I can put you two together if you PM me an email address. He's from Corvallis, Oregon.

Wayne

[skip68]

I'm going to call my mom and ask.   Not sure about the pictures.   I'm in the process of getting copies of the report from the Linn county sheriff's dept archives.     I'll let you know asap.   
Thanks, Chuck.

[skip68]

The Marshall badge has a very distinctive mark from use that we can identify.   The gun was a Walther.   

[birdsandbees]

Okay, as noted by PM hoping I can get my aviation email pal, that's in Oregon, to connect with you and help you out.

[skip68]

  
I'm not knowing what to expect as I dig into this.
I'm trying to keep in mind that this was almost 50 years ago and those that were involved with the search are Most likely in their 70's to 80's or they've passed away.   I did talk with an investigator here locally from the FAA.  He educated me on a few things.  He said that those planes were under powered and my grandpa was most likely looking for a way to get around the weather.    He said that since my grandpa reported icing on the wings and losing altitude that he would have been running at full power trying to gain altitude.       But in reality he was only gaining speed and still dropping.   Should never have been flying in the ceiling and most likely got disoriented.   He also said they probably never saw the mountain or trees due to speed and visibility.   A quick way to go.   

[birdsandbees]

When you get yourself stuck in that mess you just keep heading for the bright spots and turning away from what looks darker, been there.. done that and can thankfully still tell the stories. Envision a very dark night and pouring rain with crap windshield wipers and trying to stay on a road without hitting anything. In an airplane you can't just pull over to the curb.

And yes, the Navion killed more than it's fair share of people.. but unfortunately a bad flight decision into unforgiving weather got your grandparents, aunt and uncle. Happens to many when "gotta get there" mentality takes over your best interests no matter how many flight hours you have. Like I said, I've been there and somehow came out the other side. Many of my friends haven't been as fortunate.

[Lord Warlock]

Our family used to own a Navion, and half interest in a 2nd which was newer.  The older model was a very sturdy and easy to fly airplane, I learned to fly it when I was 12, my brother soloed in it when he was 16 and got his private license.  Navions normally had a sliding canopy that slid backwards and you exited by stepping out onto the wing.  Our Navion was considerably quicker/faster than most Cessna's I encountered or flew in, and it also had gas tanks on the ends of each wing (tip tanks).  We used to fly in tandem with another family hat had a Beechcaft Bonanza (v tailed) and we could keep up with him most of the time. 

age of the aircraft did have something to do with longevity, we had one of the side windows decide to pop sideways in mid flight over the mountains in West VA.  We kids grabbed the window as best we could but suction sucked it out and then we proceeded to freeze until we could land and block off the open window.  We did end up flying the plane back home without a window.  

I had fond memories of flying that plane, they have a loyal following and used to have annual flyins like RVers used to have annual meets.  Our 2nd Navion was about 10 years newer and had no tip tanks, and did not have the personality or fun that the first one had.  Our partner ended up buying out our interest in the 2nd plane.  Ours was eventually sold to some movie company out in California. Still remember our call sign...N5370k and its been 42 years since I saw it last, still in my memory banks.  

[tan top]

 sounds like its going to be a interesting adventure !!  good luck on your quest Chuckie   

[birdsandbees]

Great talking to your on the phone today Chuck.... and great to hear that the local SAR group is going to do a training exercise in June to the crash site with you along. Some days the stars align....  

[RCCDrew]

Subscribed. Good luck to you.

[miller time]

God speed! And good luck! Bring friends if you can since if y'all walk the same way with say 20-30 yards apart you can cover way more ground, an ATV would be very useful if your allowed to use it, if they hauled off the wreckage you may be able to find hints of an old man made trail, like long. Dead trees cut with a saw or just less vegetation then surrounding areas, possible that contacting local salvage yards and tow companies may have an idea of its location either from being hired or hearing something, local hunters may be helpful as well! Don't forget a good GPS and gun either

[mrsskip68]

This is going to be an adventure for sure. Emotional but also hopefully get some answers and closure for my father in law, Chuck, and the whole family. I'll be there trying to document everything I can via my good camera and our camcorder. Our son will also be accompanying us. More to come.
Mrs.skip68😉

[66FBCharger]

Good luck!

[dyslexic teddybear]

Good luck also, and may answers be found that helps.

[birdsandbees]

Chuck, did you get up there??? 

[Finn]

If you are using Google Earth Pro (free download) you can use the time slider to look at past aerial imagery from years back. Obviously the further back you go the worse quality you get BUT if you have an idea of the general area you might be able to see some damaged trees.

Local Land Surveyors may be a resource too.

Good luck!

[skip68]

Thanks finn     
No I haven't made it up there yet.  The plane is still there as it was almost 50 years ago.  I've had great success thanks to Mr. Ehrhardt from the Benton county search and rescue . He's located the plane, gotten reports and found some personal belongings. 
A pistol that was my grandfather's has been returned to us.  We know who has the other one and the marshals badge and are waiting to get those back. 
This has turned into an extraordinary story.  That's all for now. 

[Mopar Nut]

 

[mrsskip68]

It's been an adventure for sure and the story is still unfolding!
Mrs.Skip68😉

[birdsandbees]

Really glad to hear things are still moving along Chuck since we last talked on the phone! 

[Tilar]

Thanks finn     
No I haven't made it up there yet.  The plane is still there as it was almost 50 years ago.  I've had great success thanks to Mr. Ehrhardt from the Benton county search and rescue . He's located the plane, gotten reports and found some personal belongings. 
A pistol that was my grandfather's has been returned to us.  We know who has the other one and the marshals badge and are waiting to get those back. 
This has turned into an extraordinary story.  That's all for now. 

You know that you have to show pictures at some point. 

[poppa]

Sounds kinda cool. When are you going? Good luck!