Part 4 of my commentary - named J. Larry DeCelles investigated the crash on behalf of the pilots union - The Air Line Pilots Association in an attempt to get an answer more definitive than just 'reasons unknown'. His investigations (stemming from personal experiences with faulty fluxgate compass systems on the 404 as a line captain), caused the CAB to repopen the case and issue updated Probable Causes twice more. The final verdict was that while the reason for the course error was unknown,
Part 3 of my commentary - and impacted the vertical face of 'the Dragon's Teeth' about 280 feet above the cruising altitude of 9000' above Sea Level. The Civil Aeronautics Board was at that time responsible for investigating air crashes and came out with a Probable Cause that stated that Captain Spong must have INTENTIONALLY flown his aircraft along that course "for reasons unknown." Anyone that knew Ivan Spong would dispute that supposition, and over the next five years, another TWA Captain..
Part 2 of my commentary - The crew and all 13 passengers perished. It is believed that a mechanical failure of the fluxgate compass system (gyrocompass) caused an erroneous heading to be followed after the aircraft rolled out of its initial climbing turn while in the clouds. Just prior to the crash, with the airplane flying up the canyon, the pilots must have caught a glimpse of the mountain close aboard on their right for the aircraft was headed almost due west,
Time of the crash was 0713 on Saturday morning, Feb 19,1955. The airplane had been airborne for only 8 minutes after taking off on Runway 11 (now 12) at Albuquerque Sunport. The flight plan called for a climb directly north of the airport (well west of the Sandia Mountain) and once clear, to the northeast towards it's destination of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The aircraft was a Martin 4-0-4, and was crewed by Captain Ivan Spong, First Officer James J. Creason, and Hostess Sharon Schoening.
i've done that hike before but started from the top, it is quite an experience down there, its like dead silent because of the canyon shielding all the wind, and its in the middle of the range so you can't hear the noise of the city, not many ppl have the ambition to go there so it's real isolated, it mos def. gives you a strange feeling being there i have to agree
Thank you so much for taking the time to do this video. Earl F Davis was my great-grandfather and he died that day on that plane. Thanks to all the people who go there and honor this site.
Wow great video. Ive wanted to go to the site for many years but fear Im not in good enough shape anymore. Any idea on mileage and is there alot of bushwacking? How long did it take you?
I went with a group of people including 1 little girl about age 7 or 8 that made the round trip hike without any trouble, we went the day before Fathers Day of this year 2009
It was a Martin 404. The site is accessed by heading north on the trail leaving the tram stop. Shortly, when the trail turns west, you will come to a large ravine which you can clamber down in about 40 minutes at a fast pace. Some debris was removed initially. Allegedly, in the 1990's a participant in the recovery revealed that some remains were discovered a month after the crash and interred there to avoid grief for the families. Site should be closed as people loot it as well.
Nice video!! I tried to make it up to the crash site in Domingo Baca Canyon this afternoon, but the snow was to deep and it was very slippery!! I'll definately make the hike this spring when the snow melts. Wonderful canyon to visit!!
I've tried this hike several times when visiting ABQ. The closest I got was in the steep canyon along the stream where you begin to view the tramway overhead up-canyon. It was late spring but snow remained in the canyon and a storm began dropping more snow on the area. I was hiking alone and decided not to be stupid, so I headed back down. I have no idea how close I got to the crash site, but it wasn't worth risking my life. How far is the crash site from the big falls? Nancy from Texas
I visited Abq in 2000 before deciding to leave the east coast for good. I was riding the tram with my father and saw the wreck. It was just a glint in the sun and the tram guide knew what it was, but mentioned that no else on his tours had ever noticed it. I moved to Albuquerque a few months later, and for the 3 years I was there dreamed about this wreck frequently. Thank you so much for making this video.
Interesting. I have hiked and camped along many of the trails in the Sandia Mountains. I remember reading about this plane crash in some historical books and sites pertaining to local Albuquerque history in the past. I didn't realize the crash site was close to the track the Sandia Tram crosses over. Also amazing that there is that much wreckage still there. This will be another hike to in the very near future. I live right next to the west Sandia foothills.
Anybody hiked to this site recently? I'm a very experienced hiker so some friends want me to take them up there and I worry about how difficult it will be for them
It's not extremely difficult, but also is not a walk in the park. Doable if you are in shape. On the fist hike I got lost because I relied on GPS and it was giving me false readings.
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Can someone tell me what the " HELL " this comment from
willster808 is all about ????
Please email me at
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evrett55 3 weeks ago
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Thanks for the video. I lived in
Albq. most of my life. I think about that crash alot, I had family on 260 I was never able to go up there, I skied Sandia
alot, but I just couldn't do it.
My next trip back I'd like to.
If you know someone who I might ask to show me the way up I would greatly appreciate it. willistodd69@gmail.com
Thanks ! Todd
evrett55 3 weeks ago
RIP I was born that year
flyingxk 6 months ago
Heading up there today with a friend.
cowscantdomath 9 months ago
Part 4 of my commentary - named J. Larry DeCelles investigated the crash on behalf of the pilots union - The Air Line Pilots Association in an attempt to get an answer more definitive than just 'reasons unknown'. His investigations (stemming from personal experiences with faulty fluxgate compass systems on the 404 as a line captain), caused the CAB to repopen the case and issue updated Probable Causes twice more. The final verdict was that while the reason for the course error was unknown,
tackle98 1 year ago
Part 3 of my commentary - and impacted the vertical face of 'the Dragon's Teeth' about 280 feet above the cruising altitude of 9000' above Sea Level. The Civil Aeronautics Board was at that time responsible for investigating air crashes and came out with a Probable Cause that stated that Captain Spong must have INTENTIONALLY flown his aircraft along that course "for reasons unknown." Anyone that knew Ivan Spong would dispute that supposition, and over the next five years, another TWA Captain..
tackle98 1 year ago
Part 2 of my commentary - The crew and all 13 passengers perished. It is believed that a mechanical failure of the fluxgate compass system (gyrocompass) caused an erroneous heading to be followed after the aircraft rolled out of its initial climbing turn while in the clouds. Just prior to the crash, with the airplane flying up the canyon, the pilots must have caught a glimpse of the mountain close aboard on their right for the aircraft was headed almost due west,
tackle98 1 year ago
Time of the crash was 0713 on Saturday morning, Feb 19,1955. The airplane had been airborne for only 8 minutes after taking off on Runway 11 (now 12) at Albuquerque Sunport. The flight plan called for a climb directly north of the airport (well west of the Sandia Mountain) and once clear, to the northeast towards it's destination of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The aircraft was a Martin 4-0-4, and was crewed by Captain Ivan Spong, First Officer James J. Creason, and Hostess Sharon Schoening.
tackle98 1 year ago
The Plane was a Martin 4-0-4
SinclairisCool 1 year ago
why did they leave all the wreckage there?
b747dude 1 year ago
@b747dude prolly would have cost to much to pull it out it's not like it is now where they get every bit of the plane
1999sebring 1 year ago
thanks for showing this vid everytime i go up i can never see and i think the guides full of shit
TokyoAro 2 years ago
i've done that hike before but started from the top, it is quite an experience down there, its like dead silent because of the canyon shielding all the wind, and its in the middle of the range so you can't hear the noise of the city, not many ppl have the ambition to go there so it's real isolated, it mos def. gives you a strange feeling being there i have to agree
skinnywhop87 2 years ago
Thank you so much for taking the time to do this video. Earl F Davis was my great-grandfather and he died that day on that plane. Thanks to all the people who go there and honor this site.
clvoigt 2 years ago
Wow great video. Ive wanted to go to the site for many years but fear Im not in good enough shape anymore. Any idea on mileage and is there alot of bushwacking? How long did it take you?
imthenoid69 2 years ago
@imthenoid69 My uncle says apox 2 day hike if your smart about it :)
TokyoAro 2 years ago
I went with a group of people including 1 little girl about age 7 or 8 that made the round trip hike without any trouble, we went the day before Fathers Day of this year 2009
fgfsumh 2 years ago
great vid. I'v known about it for a few years now but never thought yoou could or might want to get over to it.(i would like to)
BG06SILVERADO 2 years ago
oh thank u
spartanwarrior340 3 years ago
what kind of plane is this it looks like a douglas
spartanwarrior340 3 years ago
It was a Martin 404. The site is accessed by heading north on the trail leaving the tram stop. Shortly, when the trail turns west, you will come to a large ravine which you can clamber down in about 40 minutes at a fast pace. Some debris was removed initially. Allegedly, in the 1990's a participant in the recovery revealed that some remains were discovered a month after the crash and interred there to avoid grief for the families. Site should be closed as people loot it as well.
uvidview77 3 years ago
Nice video!! I tried to make it up to the crash site in Domingo Baca Canyon this afternoon, but the snow was to deep and it was very slippery!! I'll definately make the hike this spring when the snow melts. Wonderful canyon to visit!!
GEOCACHINGJEFF 3 years ago
I've tried this hike several times when visiting ABQ. The closest I got was in the steep canyon along the stream where you begin to view the tramway overhead up-canyon. It was late spring but snow remained in the canyon and a storm began dropping more snow on the area. I was hiking alone and decided not to be stupid, so I headed back down. I have no idea how close I got to the crash site, but it wasn't worth risking my life. How far is the crash site from the big falls? Nancy from Texas
oldcodyjr 3 years ago
Why hasn't anyone removed the debris???
logyscott 3 years ago 2
can anyone help with a general route to take to find the site??
Brakish33 4 years ago
I visited Abq in 2000 before deciding to leave the east coast for good. I was riding the tram with my father and saw the wreck. It was just a glint in the sun and the tram guide knew what it was, but mentioned that no else on his tours had ever noticed it. I moved to Albuquerque a few months later, and for the 3 years I was there dreamed about this wreck frequently. Thank you so much for making this video.
etamborra 4 years ago
Interesting. I have hiked and camped along many of the trails in the Sandia Mountains. I remember reading about this plane crash in some historical books and sites pertaining to local Albuquerque history in the past. I didn't realize the crash site was close to the track the Sandia Tram crosses over. Also amazing that there is that much wreckage still there. This will be another hike to in the very near future. I live right next to the west Sandia foothills.
sandiaman1 4 years ago
Not very many people know about this.
buggs2001 4 years ago
No NTSB in 1955 A year later another twa aircraft hit a united dc7 over the grand canyon and wreckage is still there today
Gregor1883 4 years ago
there is no wreckage of the plane in this video!
willster808 4 years ago
Anybody hiked to this site recently? I'm a very experienced hiker so some friends want me to take them up there and I worry about how difficult it will be for them
jdurose 4 years ago
It's not extremely difficult, but also is not a walk in the park. Doable if you are in shape. On the fist hike I got lost because I relied on GPS and it was giving me false readings.
buggs2001 4 years ago
No they don't have to take it.
MWDAVIS1510 4 years ago
there is no way the ntsb could leave all that
Wreckage there they have to take it for evidence to
solve the Mystery of the fatal plane crash
Unitedairlinesmco 4 years ago
Search this:
LOST: The Search for Flight 655. They left a lot of stuff from this one too. If they crash is rough terrain they don't remove very much.
MWDAVIS1510 4 years ago
so the ntsb left all the wreckage there?
westindude 4 years ago
Most of it.
buggs2001 4 years ago
I've seen the crash site several times from the tram...but, never from the ground. Some nice photos in this collection.
gregfisher 5 years ago
who sings this song
maputo88 5 years ago
bel montaggio, belle foto, bravi!
bellodisera 5 years ago
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thebigtop 5 years ago