The San Antonio Valley C-45B

San Antonio Valley C-45B
Copyright 1999
by Don R. Jordan
2/19/05

     Only recently discovered, not much is known about this crash.    When we found this site, there was only a single engine sticking up out of the dirt. We thought it was a AT-6 engine. But, thanks to Craig Fuller of A.A.I.R. , who tracked down the numbers that we found on the instrument panel, and helped us to make the identification. Now we know it is a twin engine C-45B. That means there's another engine down there somewhere.
     The instrument panel found still had some instruments in place and intact. This aircraft did not run out of fuel. The fuel gauge indicated a half tank of fuel left at the time of impact.

     An eye witness living on the property in 1946, heard the crash and called the authorities. I hope to have the full story up on this site in the near future. A truly amazing sight to see . . . an engine sticking up out of the ground, as if trying to gain altitude one last time.

UPDATE
The full story is in the new book by G. Pat Macha and Don R. Jordan.
"Aircraft Wrecks in The Mountains and Deserts of California"
(3rd edition), is now available directly from Don R. Jordan , Info Net Publishing, or any retail book store.

Book Order Page

Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.

Here you can easily see the mound of dirt covering the wreckage. In the center is the engine and wing. Other parts are scattered all over the area.

An amazing find! The instrument panel of the C-45B with some instruments still intact. The fuel gauge shows half a tank of fuel left. We found the radio call sign on this panel. It read "RADIO CALL, 335567"

The wreckage was pushed into a pile and covered over with dirt. Time and weather are slowly uncovering the wreckage. An engine and wing section is now clearly visible.

Don is inspecting the engine looking for the data plate. When these pictures were taken, we did not know what type of aircraft it was. Later research proved it to be a C-45B.

Jim is sitting on a wing section as he inspects the engine. This wing section was buried several feet in the ground. You could see down inside the wing for about six feet. It was obviously home to something, but we weren't going to find out what!

The site was originally found by Jim Rowan about five years ago. At that time, he turned over this engine cowl and found two rattlesnakes looking at him. He left the area in a hurry and never went back until Don went with him in January of 2000.

All photos are the property of Don Jordan, and may not be reproduced without permission.

Return To Don's Aviation Home Page

		Here you can easily see the mound of dirt covering the wreckage. In the center is the engine and wing. Other parts are scattered all over the area.
		An amazing find! The instrument panel of the C-45B with some instruments still intact. The fuel gauge shows half a tank of fuel left. We found the radio call sign on this panel. It read "RADIO CALL, 335567"
		The wreckage was pushed into a pile and covered over with dirt. Time and weather are slowly uncovering the wreckage. An engine and wing section is now clearly visible.
		Don is inspecting the engine looking for the data plate. When these pictures were taken, we did not know what type of aircraft it was. Later research proved it to be a C-45B.
		Jim is sitting on a wing section as he inspects the engine. This wing section was buried several feet in the ground. You could see down inside the wing for about six feet. It was obviously home to something, but we weren't going to find out what!
		The site was originally found by Jim Rowan about five years ago. At that time, he turned over this engine cowl and found two rattlesnakes looking at him. He left the area in a hurry and never went back until Don went with him in January of 2000.