Aircraft Wrecks in the Mountains and Deserts of the American West

Aviation Archeology 'Wreck Finding"

G. Pat Macha is an aviation historian and archeologist who has spent time, money and effort tracking down the incongruous remains of current and vintage aircraft at accident sites. He has hiked, horsebacked and helicoptered to more than 800 accident sites. Chased by bears, threatened by rattlesnakes, and forced to fall hundreds of feet off a mountain, he perseveres and obtains data and wreckage.

"There must be a reason why I do this," he considers to himself while watching the preview of his 50 minute video "Wreck Finding". "Well, it's all for the thrill of discovery and the opportunity to assemble the puzzle pieces of why planes crash. Also, to commemorate the spot where courageous men and women played out the final minutes of their lives.

Pat Macha found his first wreck in 1963 while working in the Southern California mountains as hike master for the YMCA when he came across the remains of an Air Force C-47 transport. Since that time, via horseback helicopters and hiking, he has examined the destroyed remnants of W.W.II trainers to Korean-era jets, commercial airliners and private craft. It is shocking to see the damage done to a perfectly good airplane when it hits a mountain.

Macha blames weather for most of the accidents (or, the fact that a pilot flew into it when he shouldn't have) but there have been plenty of midairs, down-drafts, thunderstorms, snow and ice that have claimed their share. Twice as many pilots have been killed in military training exercises as in combat, states Macha. For example, the 19 P-40's sent off into a thunderstorm one day shortly before W.W.II, only four survived as ''it rained P-40's" said Macha.

Although previously sited and designated wreckage is marked with a yellow or red "X" there may be as many as 400 in this state not even identified on the thorough California "wreckage locator."

It is sobering to look at the remains of once proud aircraft, now nothing but smashed pieces o f tubing and twisted metal. One cannot help but vow to take a little more time on the next preflight weather report.

Order "Wreck Finding" DVD