lone pine airport

[Flightjock30]

welp found the answer to my own question that I found on a website about hiking the mountains and in the wilderness in that part of California:

Rick Otto writes:[size=-1]

I was flying into Tunnel with my dad in the early 1960's. My dad and I would fly to Lone Pine and Bob White would fly us in. I've flown my entire life but I never was in a airplane that was loaded with as much stuff as Bob would care into the meadow. I always loved the place so much I talked my wife into back packing out of tunnel for our honeymoon in 1975. It was the last time I got to go in, a few years after our trip I heard that Bob had returned from Tunnel laid down on the couch at the airport and passed away in his sleep. I remember that Bob only had one good hand, his left. He had tried to hand prop a airplane at Tunnel and had not gotten his hand out of the way. The accident had broken all the bones in his hand, but had not broken the skin. He had the doctors form his hand into a position that let him "grip" the control yoke and also he had two fingers spread apart so he could operate the throttle He was a great guy.

Last week my wife back packed into Tunnel for our wedding anniversary and was happy to find that we could still tell where the runway and camp were. Its great to go back to a place and find its still as beautiful as I remember it.

Thanks for your web site
July 2005[/size]

 

[Spooky 1]

That's a great story. I am afraid the the characters of olden days are pretty much out of the business today. Probably a few around, certainly in the Forestry Service end of business with fire fighting and some in Alaska as well.

 

[Spooky 1]

I was curious about the crash you described, so I did a little hunting. Here's what I found.

Date / Time: Tuesday, February 18, 1969 / 5:10 a.m.
Operator / Flight No.: Mineral County Airlines / Flight 708
Location: Near Lone Pine, Calif.


Details and Probable Cause: The vintage twin-engine Douglas DC-3 airliner (N15570), a scheduled “gamblers special” flight popular with casino-goers, was en route from Hawthorne, Nevada, to Burbank and Long Beach, carrying 32 passengers and a crew of three.

Following a visual flight rules (VFR) flightplan while flying in instrument flight rules (IFR) weather conditions, the aircraft disappeared in the vicinity of the 14,495-foot-high Mount Whitney -- the highest peak in California (and highest in the U.S. outside Alaska).

The search for the missing aircraft was suspended a week later when heavy snows blanketed the region. Almost six months later, on August 8, searchers finally were able to locate the remains of the DC-3 and its occupants when melting snows exposed the wreckage.

The airliner had slammed into the face of a near-vertical cliff at the 11,770-foot level on the eastern slope of Mt. Whitney, instantly killing all on board. Most of wreckage had then tumbled over 350 feet down a slope below the cliff.

The crash was attributed to the pilot’s improper VFR flight in IFR weather conditions, and subsequent deviation from the prescribed course into area where there were no reliable navigational aids. Fatalities: 35 -- 32 passengers and a crew of 3.

Source: http://members.aol.com/jaydeebee1/crash60s.html

I had a friend at the time who was flying Capt. on this same operation out of Haethorne, NV. As I recall he was furloughed from Flying Tigers at the time. Later went back and flew/instructed on all the Tiger aircraft up to and including the B747. Went over to Fed Ex in the merger and retired a few years back. Still living, but not sure where at these days.

 

[Flightjock30]

PM me and provide with me with your friends name. I will try to look him up on the FAA database and it will show his address and ratings.

 

[Flyin Tony]

Theres nothing at the airport, I flew over it the other day and landed there not to long ago.

 

[Spooky 1]

Theres nothing at the airport, I flew over it the other day and landed there not to long ago.

Which airport are you talking about and what does this icing link have to do with the subject. Maybe I am missing something or maybe I am clueless?

Thanks

 

[Immelman]

Another area in the Sierras that has taken its toll in aircraft metal and body parts is Independence Pass. In the 70's the FAA published "Diamond Routes" so pilots could find their way through the mountains. The route through Independence Pass depicted either a right or left turn (I don't recall which) but it was opposite of the way your were actually supposed to turn. The fateful turn put you into a blind box canyon and it was so tight, you could't turn around in it. A lot of planes impacted the terrian with no place else to go. Soon after, the FAA removed Diamond Routes from the Sectionals.

Would that be the same as Kearsarge pass? I have hiked in to the interior of the sierra through there. It is due west of the town of Independence, and the pass is about 12,000 if memory serves me correctly.

That is really beautiful country up there.. I have been a lot of places for my age and that country is really special..

 

[phantomdriver]

Has anyone hoked Mt. Whitney yet? Is it good to hike?

 

[Immelman]

Has anyone hoked Mt. Whitney yet? Is it good to hike?

Yup, same trip as when I went in over Kearsarge, above. We hiked in from the north, spent a few days coming down the John Muir/Pacific Crest trail and then on to whitney... it was really enjoyable. Really I prefered it better than doing the quick trip that people do from the eastern slope. It was great camping out above 10,000' for several nights and actually acclimating. Got up to 14,000 and while the day hikers were hypoxic we ran (well, almost ran) to the summit.

Another cool way to get there if you can arrange the transport and have a week is to take the high sierra trail, starting on the west side in sequoia park and go through all the way to whitney... wonderful country.

 

[CorpLearDriver]

Yup, same trip as when I went in over Kearsarge, above. We hiked in from the north, spent a few days coming down the John Muir/Pacific Crest trail and then on to whitney... it was really enjoyable. Really I prefered it better than doing the quick trip that people do from the eastern slope. It was great camping out above 10,000' for several nights and actually acclimating. Got up to 14,000 and while the day hikers were hypoxic we ran (well, almost ran) to the summit.

Another cool way to get there if you can arrange the transport and have a week is to take the high sierra trail, starting on the west side in sequoia park and go through all the way to whitney... wonderful country.

I did a trans-sierra backpack several years go, but not that far south. We went over Bishop Pass, down to the middle fork of the Kings River and bushwhacked on through to Tehipiti Valley (nothing like yosemite) where we spent a couple days than did the 4,000 climb in 4 miles out of there an on towards that lake that is east of Fresno (can't remember the name.) All told, 10 days in the back country and it was marvelous.