Undocumented Cold War Era Plane Crash and Miner's Cabin

[@argus9609]

That plane wreckage is from the McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom #68-0356 that crashed on 2/9/70 while on a Ground Attack Radar Tactical training mission out of George Air Force Base, Ca. Both pilots Capt. James B. Fowler and 1/Lt Kenneth Richter were killed in the accident. I found that wreckage in 2014 and was able to track down the information about the accident.

[@marktadlock5428]

From the debris they must have hit the mountain at very speed maneuver

[@barbaragravely920]

RIP men.

[@TheSilmarillian]

@@marktadlock5428 Yep irresistible force takes on immovable solid object ouch

[@anotherdave5107]

@@TheSilmarillian - no reason to bring me and my missus into this!

[@codygranrud6212]

RIP Fowler and Richter. o7 🇺🇸

[@lindabriggs5118]

Its a Volunteer Cabin that allows people to stay there overnight or a weekend. The Flag you hang outside to let others know the cabin is occupied. There a number of them out there in the Death Valley area. Good find btw. 👏

[@leokimvideo]

The aircraft parts looked incredibly clean and unbedded for something that's been lying out in the dirt since 1970. The mineshaft looked stupidly dangerous

[@JohnDavies-cn3ro]

Quite fascinating film - thank you. I once found the crash site of a B 17 which hit the summit of Arenig Ffawr in Snowdonia, and there was very little bigger than a hand's breath left to find. There was part of an engine cylinder, split clean apart, with the threaded bore for the spark plug which was the only part identifiable. A lot depends on how hard the machine hit the floor of course - sorry to learn the crew in your case didin't survive. Neither did the B17 crew; there is a memorial to them at the site, and each Remembrance Day someone climbs up the mountain to lay a poppy wreath to their memory. Sleep well, lads.

[@wes11bravo]

Hello John, I have ancestral ties to Wales. And it's actually quite touching that someone takes the time to honor the memory of the young guys (kids really) who lost their lives as B-17 crewmembers so many years ago. All the best from Pittsburgh USA.

[@Askjeffwilliams]

hahahhah Melons huh ....those are Desert Gourds .... when the dry out the sound like maracas .... fun explore sunny Jim

[@ExploringCabinsandMines]

SEND ME SOME GOLD !! 🤣

[@parkerottoackley6325]

Hello Jeff, Love your channel, funny seeing 👀 you here. Now COME ON,LET'S GO

[@richardwarnock2789]

Jeff that's Using the Gourds!!!; )

[@christopherpuetz7175]

Hey Jeff funny to see you here.

[@markjensen399]

Really enjoy your shows. keep up the good work. Just remember where you came from and how and why people like your shows. Most people creating shows have forgot their start and being humble, and where they came from, And at that point the shows become unwatchable. Keep up the good work, keep it true to its form as now and you will go a long way with your endeavors. Just an old man's opinion.

[@WesternMineDetective]

You're totally right! I try to stick to my roots and why I started making vids in the first place. And that's the for the love of history

[@jmarsh3347]

Thanks for showing that it's the right thing to do to leave things where you found them and not take souvenirs. Well done.

[@QuanticChaos1000]

4:25 that fridge is from the 1930's. The truck is a 1956 Chevrolet LCF, it was a ginpole truck.

[@gunslinger9560]

My grandfather was part of the investigation crew on the F4,he based out Edwards A.F.B. I'm pretty sure this is the same,I remember telling me about an accident by a gold mine

[@ToddDunning]

Such a cool explore, and great job finding that crash site! I think you were in the impact area. Because the site was cleaned up and all the big chunks gone it tends to indicate a relatively recent crash, say the last 30 years. Titanium started to be widely used in 1950's military jets. Looks like an access cover door you found early on. The Cartridge/Pneumatic find is an excellent clue, verifying it's military; engine starter systems use this when there is limited ground support equipment around. Because the castings you found are quite heavy and the debris field is large we may be looking at a cold war era bomber. For a better look I use Google Earth going back in time to previous imaging and look for little white reflections.

[@lbdrummer3]

Neat wreck find. You can identify the make and model of it by finding a piece with a part number on it. The prefix of that part number will identify the plane. You can search for that prefix list on the net. Another clue that may help is to know what bases or gunnery ranges are close by. That projectile looks like something from the wreck and looks like it cooked off and wasn't fired. That type of ammo was widely used in the 50's-70's on aircraft equipped with 20mm Vulcan cannons. Practice ammo is usually blue but sometimes black. Anything yellow or red or looks like it has a screw on tip is leaveitaloneite. If you can ID the aircraft and the local bases/ranges, you will most likely be able to find a wreck report on it.

[@repairdroid77]

Just a heads up. The ammo that you found by the mine was just the projectile (bullet) from a 20 mm cannon round. The F-4E that crashed had that very same caliber of rotary cannon called the M-61and I'm suspecting that the "bullet" of that round came from the crashed aircraft. At the impact velocity of a jet you could probably find them all over. As the M-61 was situated under the nose and back a bit I also wouldn't be surprised if any part of that cannon were in the ground at the point of impact along with more of those rounds and any heavier parts that weren't removed by the military. Sometimes it wasn't worth the effort to dig up things when the crash cause was already known/easily determined.

[@coptertim]

Those refrigerators were called "Kid killers" because children would find them while playing, hide inside and not be able to get out. Any time they were found abandoned, the doors were broken off for safety.

[@myleswillis]

Yep, hate to do it to an antique like that but that lock should really be busted off or the whole thing taken away. Awful way to go, especially for a kid. ☹

[@TnTMyers2010]

Bravo Jerith! First, it is great to have you back out exploring and videoing! That column of copper was stunning! And a very cool find on the 20mm! I know that excitement of finding such stuff! Oh, the melons are Coyote Gourds. Not edible by humans. Can't wait to see where your next adventure leads you to! As always, thanks for sharing with us.

[@WesternMineDetective]

Hey Charlene, thanks for the comment! That 20 mm round was quite the surprise glad to have come across it. Going on another adventure tomorrow so super excited about that. Cheers!

[@dezertraider]

I REALLY LIKE THE WAY YOU TREAT ARTIFACTS,YOU PUT THEM DOWN GENTLY INSTEAD OF THROWING DOWN..GOOD JOB!..BTW WHEN YOU PUT GLASS BOTTLES,CUPS DOWN,YOU SHOULD PUT THEN OPENING END DOWN..IF UP WATER CAN FILL THEM,THEY FREEZE AND CRACK..STAY AWESOME..GREAT EXPLORE..

[@WheresmywingsRedBull]

The reason you are only finding small fragments is because it has been blown to pieces with explosives deliberately on the ground or in the air. If you look at the pieces they are torn, not something you see from an impact

[@SueGirling68]

Hi Jerith, the cabin was a nice find, it looks like a work in progress perhaps ??. I agree with you that it might be a military plane crash just for all the green on some of the metal and of course the 20mm round gives it away, I think the reason you didn't find the engine or bigger pieces is because they were all gathered up and taken away for analysis as to what happened, hopefully the pilot ejected or his body was found. Those copper minerals were very cool, I love the blue colour, it is just so vivid. Thank you for sharing, much love. xx ❤

[@josephdaiglejr8509]

Actually all aircraft have the light green paint its a primer sealer coating on the metal to prohibit oxidation even civilian aircraft

[@SueGirling68]

@@josephdaiglejr8509 Oh okay, thanks for the info, I didn't know. x

[@terrancemahoney4669]

The refrigerator is most likely from around the 40s or earlier. The wiring is possibly 1920s and is called knob and tube. The wire should have a cloth type insulation.

[@Stand.Your.Ground.]

Be amazing to have you come to Oregon and check out some of the old mines on land my grandparents own.

[@Hidden_Destinations]

I love your channel. Just found it and binge watching your content. I like that you study the history of your adventures before going. Great job!

[@NaomisAdventures]

Great video. That was cool to see the mines, the crash site and the miners cabin.

[@AmboyChamblis]

Nice find! Hopefully it will stay restored.

[@charity3998]

Awesome finds. That is great cabin so cool. Thanks for an amazing video

[@kokosnood]

You should have put that drinking glass in the cabin with the other artifacts :) When you threw that rock down the shaft I imagined someone yelling up: "Hey, I'm down here. Don't throw rocks in my house" LOL

[@phatkid6811]

I don't know about the crash; but as a former AF guy - it appears to be very high energy with the dispersal of the wreckage, the smallness of the pieces, and all seem to have trauma. Note: Your "starter or cartridge" piece -- most likely came from the engine - and probably a jet. Cold War bombers (and 135s) had starter cartridges to start the engines in quick time. Curious to know which crash it is -- I don't know of any "missing' Cold War crashes.

[@GRosa250]

That had to have been a very high speed impact to have the parts so spread out and in such small fragments. As someone else in the comments said, the larger pieces were probably removed by the authorities. The piece you picked up that you thought was part of an exhaust looked to me to be part of a jet engine combustor, but there’s just not enough to be certain.

[@Ganiscol]

Thats an instance where a drone would come in handy to scout the debris field. Then again, all the larger pieces were recovered. However, fascinating to come along for the search! Some really interesting pieces and the highlight was certainly the projectile!

[@flyme53]

That was more like a 20mm cannon projectile. Great tour, thanks!

[@georgescott249]

always good videos,glad you was able to give your knee a break and not be climbing ladders all day inside those mines,your knee definatly needs a break,climbing ladders will hurt your knees really bad after a while.,any videos you want to do is always very good

[@IcelanderUSer]

Leaf springs have nothing to do with a super comfortable ride. They’re meant to carry a lot of weight.

[@richardbeee]

Great explore. Thanks for sharing!

[@robav8or]

Cartridge/Pneumatic starter is from the engine. It allowed for alert starts using a coffee can sized cartridge packed full of explosives that were set off in a controlled way to rotate the jet engine during start.

[@bja010]

I just liked and subscribed because this was an awesome video!!! Outstanding job!!! Thanks for sharing your amazing adventures with us!!!

[@CarswithNash]

Cool fines. I laughed at that one mine all being slanted to one side like that, I’m wondering if that miner had a peg leg or something!🤣

[@canastasiou68]

Great video bro,really enjoy seeing the places and things you find. Cheers from Australia 👍

[@robb2055]

Went to the crash site of a small plane on the continental divide in NM once. There was hardly anything left. Small pieces like you are finding. It think it crashed in the late 40's or early 50's best I can recall.

[@coachlawlor]

Try to look for part #'s on aircraft wreckage debris. P/N' s can tell so much about an aircraft aerobody.

[@theogdirkdiggler]

I love your respect, a rare thing to find these days! Thank you for sharing, new sub here! Oops just found out Im already subbed lool!

[@serioussoldier7977]

Those are buffalo gourds. pretty neat not something you would want to eat but, if you dry it out you could make a pretty neat little bottle.

[@derekmahon1652]

Great explore, thanks! Have you thought about taking a little drone with you to help scout out an area? Sure enough most of the enjoyment is to look around and discover as you explore. Just an idea!

[@WesternMineDetective]

I have definitely considered getting a drone one of these days, just haven't felt the need for it yet. Hiking is king but if I wanted to quickly survey an area without losing much daylight a drone would be great. Thanks for watching!

[@derekmahon1652]

@@WesternMineDetective thanks for sharing your adventures! I'm into caving so I enjoy seeing the rock formations you find.

[@Llamadosalvaje]

Nice finds! Cool content! Congrats from Chile 🇨🇱

[@bluwtrgypsy]

Sad, but excellent video. Thank you.

[@donnarouse5366]

The spark plug on the desk is part of the jet!

[@robb2055]

As for the squash, are they native plants or did some bring pumpkins out there at one time for target practice? I read on another channel once that sometimes people do that then they grow from the seeds.

[@johnlewan1114]

Probably a ground target or a drone used for live fire practice. If your where I think, there are three Air Force or Navy weapons test sites close by. I was surprised that adit/stope turned out that big. Thanks for the adventure.

[@scotts3938]

Thanks for the cool explore!

[@jamesdickinson1397]

Watching this video now and they are pretty cool. But I just want to say be careful out there if you are alone. That is now people go missing and are never heard from again. Fall down one of those mine shafts and it's over. Anyway, that being said if I was 30 plus years younger I could see myself out there as well. Say safe out there.

[@charlesdeilke8364]

1950-60's jet. Prob a F-100. They cleaned it up as best they could, fill up cargo nets with bigger parts haul off with helicopter same with big chunks. 20mm projectile doesn't look fired, quick way to know is the driving band it will have rifling marks if fired.

[@PTRRanger951]

Would love to know the coords to this. There is one near Silver Peak in Esmeralda County NV too. Have a memorial for it and everything there. Spent years patrolling the back roads of the county and there is no shortage of abandoned mines large and small that are all easily accessible. One thing to note for military crash sites. A lot of the smaller debris can come from when they may scuttle it. A lot of times if it is not worth it for them to try to remove a wreckage, they will remove anything they can of sensitive nature and then set explosives on the rest and make sure it can not be reused or reverse engineered. We had a Navy SAR helicopter from Fallon crash just outside of the county on the White Mountains two years ago. They sent teams up to hike to it and flew in more. They were going to set explosives if they were not able to lift it out with a Chinook. Also the round you found was just the head of the round. It would be pressed into the casing, just like the lead on a handgun round.

[@MikeOrkid]

If it's that old, the pieces you were finding were most likely stainless steel. It also has the blue/purple heat oxidation like titanium.

[@pariariver302]

Thanks and keep up the good work. Much appreciated.

[@neilhansen5663]

Great video content matey

[@patruddiman4228]

That is a 55 to 57 chevy 2 ton truck

[@MichalOlender]

This is why I love Mondays!

[@WesternMineDetective]

Hell yeah bro! Thanks for stopping by. Can't wait for the next explore with ya

[@ismewhat1234]

Super cool video keep safe 👍

[@tonypassamano2846]

Cartridge Pneumatic starter (part of the piston engine)

[@WesternMineDetective]

Awesome info! Thanks alot.

[@AZRob56]

20mm aircraft cannon projectile. Good explore.

[@kencmorrison6430]

Is that your Jeep XJ? how about a little more information about it . I've had three. they've served very well

[@WesternMineDetective]

It is! It's a 93 4.0L, 5 speed manual. Pretty awesome rig for sure

[@kencmorrison6430]

I'm glad you got the five-speed on this last one I got an automatic and lost a lot of power and control because of it.

[@drewpackman2929]

The old style wiring on the cabin ceiling joists is known as Knob and Post.

[@Dog.soldier1950]

Actually “knob and tube”

[@minehunter25]

Too bad you didn't spend the night in that miners shack, it's haunted, been there in the 1980s with some friends and had a paranormal experience there, this was before any of the restorations that you see now.

[@carsonhoward2884]

Looks like a 56 Chevy I’d pick that up

[@danerickson1632]

Have a snake bite kit and a good first-aid kit to be safe, and maybe a good caliber pistol .

[@omcasanova]

23:40 exhaust nozzle, all those parts in this area looks like pieces of the engine.

[@fredbalandran3182]

Thanks for posting be safe

[@yourbestfriendliz5832]

Thanks for the upload. why didn't you tell us what was written on the note left on that table for all who enter th4e cabin? that would have been interesting/

[@tcapfan4190]

What is the square metal plate that you turn an ore car around on? Slick sheet slip sheet turn plate? I don't know and am sure there is a proper term?

[@charitywattenburger4550]

I’m really surprised you don’t keep a repelling “kit” in your Jeep.

[@annamaysdaddy]

Argus are you sure it couldn't be a F100 super saber from the heat coloration in the metal I would agree it looks like Titanium and from the paint color on some of the pieces it looks like the paint scheme of the Super Sabers of the 70's and 80's which used titanium in the build of those aircraft

[@TheSilmarillian]

Yep irresistible force takes on immovable solid object ouch....the size of the debris field and all that metal torn apart like paper tells its own story it was a hard hit indeed

[@wes11bravo]

Nice XJ!

[@zanehayes4380]

Yes! I can’t un-see a fellow XJ enjoyer

[@ExplorationObsession]

Definitely Cold War era crash, not WW2. Good video.

[@jenniffer9034]

What an awesome video

[@ExploringCabinsandMines]

Weird how the house is on a "hilltop" by itself.

[@HondaGoldwingGL1800]

When yoou sy that you are out in the desert, would it be too much trouble to say "where" in the desert so that some of us might go visit these places.

[@R2.00]

Nice video

[@Caddl123]

Hi everyone. Did any of you notice after 41:56 that reflection like from eys on the uer more left side of the screen??

[@ericmason349]

The cold war era plane crash was a separate video and more recent, right? I'm not seeing it here. Maybe I missed it?

[@criskee6673]

All you need is a part number to figure out what it is.

[@hondaman4423]

Is that aircraft #43-9821 near mountain pass? A Douglas A-20G Havoc

[@Desert_Explorer_75]

Wrong terrain for that aircraft if you compare it to the actual crash site photos

[@donnarouse5366]

Why don't you sign the log book?

[@shaneleyden622]

Anyone wondering where this is at, its 7 miles south of Mitchell Caverns.

[@drewconrad7093]

A little duct tape, bailing wire and bondo and that truck would be as good as new. lol. The shaft looks big enough that you might be able to fly a drone down it. Would be cool to hit some of those minerals with a black light.

[@klrmoto]

That was probably magnesium tipped 20mm bullet? Lights things on fire on impact.

[@crchuckh6852]

thanks for sharing

[@nolatone]

I can’t imagine a helicopter crash having enough velocity to reduce it down to only pieces that size.

[@DanDeVoto]

If we knew what area of the desert your in, locating crash site would be possible.

[@frankmosses9121]

Undocumented infers it was documented at one time but documents were destroyed. The words you were looking for is not documented however being as how you are only finding small pieces I'm going to guess it was not only documented but recovered

[@coachlawlor]

It appears as if it was shot or exploded in flight and disentigrated. Based on the size of pieces found so small and no earth scar from an impact.

[@robb2055]

Looks like they might have had those rocks to the upper right of the screen cut into a ladder.

[@philliphall5198]

Where did it hit the ground at ??

[@georgesmith8113]

Fun stuff! Thanks! 👍👍👍👊😎

[@ravekyd]

Can we get a link to the crash plz plz plz?

[@robb2055]

Someone above posted details.

[@marktadlock5428]

Flatbed 5700 probably 2 ton or more model, and it wou.d ride hard and stiff

[@frankyensan]

Are you alone or is someone else there with you?

[@royrice6656]

The USAF does a great job in cleaning up crash debris, but not a “perfect” job. 👍

[@substance1]

Your lucky you didn't get stung by a scorpion rooting around those areas.

[@BETTERTOMARROW]

That plain exploded on impact.

[@barbaragravely920]

That looks calapsed be careful inside.Use caution please?

[@eduardoazevedo6436]

Isn't that the CIA A-12 Oxcart spy plane? (it's crash site was thoroughly cleaned, only tiny bits remained)

[@polishhotdog933]

Trusty and jeep in the same sentence?

[@WesternMineDetective]

Yes its got 224k miles and counting

[@polishhotdog933]

@@WesternMineDetective cool