A training accident would once again claim the life of an experienced Naval Aviator, and this time he would take his wing man with him.  It was "follow the leader" in this August 26, 1954 crash of two Navy AD-6 type aircraft that took the life of Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Hubert L. Worrell and Lieutenant (jg) Roger W. Tillson  Jr.  Both men were assigned to VA-195 located on Moffett Field in the San Francisco Bay area of California.

 The mission that day was a low level, long range navigational training flight.  LCDR Worrell was the flight leader, but at the moment of impact, Lt. Tillson was in the lead.  The practice navigational flight was to remain approximately 500 feet above the terrain and clear of clouds for the entire route.

 The Flight Plan called for an initial heading of 238 degrees after departure, to a point  35 miles out to sea.  At that point, the flight was to turn right to a heading of 347 degrees  for 32 miles.  Then turn right once again to a heading of 058 degrees  enroute to Fallon, Nevada.  Both aircraft carried a MK 12 external fuel tank and had enough fuel for six and a half (6.5) hours of flight.

    Once they crossed the shoreline,  north of Bodega Bay, they  only had a few more minutes of flight before impact on Mt. St. Helena.  Both aircraft are still on the mountain to this day.  Pictures of the wreckage have appeared in  magazines, and on the cover of many Wreck Chasing books.

    You will read the full story of this tragic accident in the new book, "Aircraft Wrecks in The Mountains and Deserts of California", (3rd edition), by G. Pat Macha and Don Jordan.  This exciting new book is now available from Info Net Publishing, or any retail book store.

    While doing research for the book, Pat and Don personally visited many of these crash sites.  New sites are being found and documented almost daily. Pictures taken at these sites are amazing, and  many of them will  appear in the new book.